Fires Rage in Occupied Artsakh as Landmines Explode; Armenians Say Wildfires Are Erasing Heritage by Design

Massive wildfires are tearing through the Armenian homeland of Artsakh, devastating forests, grazing lands, and historic villages in the Akna (Aghdam) and Martakert regions. What began as a blaze in Azerbaijani-occupied territory has now reached deep into Armenian areas, including the village of Nor Ghazanchi in Martakert. As the flames spread, hidden landmines left over from years of war are exploding, putting lives and the environment in even greater danger.

While Azerbaijani media attempts to present this as a routine forest fire, the truth is far more alarming. This is not just an environmental emergency — it is a crisis unfolding on occupied Armenian lands, where ancient woods and centuries-old communities are at risk.

The forests and fields of Artsakh are more than just landscapes. They are part of Armenia’s living history. The fire that broke out in the pastures and brush of Akna has now advanced toward Martakert, threatening one of the few remaining strongholds of Armenian cultural presence in the region. The dry summer conditions and strong winds have turned the hills into fuel, and now wide swaths of land are burning uncontrollably.

Despite deploying helicopters and emergency crews, Azerbaijani forces have failed to stop the flames from spreading. Reports confirm that Azerbaijani firefighting units are struggling to contain the fire, especially as buried landmines — remnants of past battles and occupations — detonate in the heat. These explosions not only endanger firefighters but make clear that the ground itself remains a deadly hazard in territories now under Azerbaijani occupation.

This is not just a wildfire. It is another blow to a region already suffering from displacement, cultural erasure, and political aggression.

• Environmental Destruction: The forests of Artsakh are home to rare species and serve as vital ecosystems for the Caucasus region. Fires are wiping out trees, animal habitats, and clean air sources. Once these lands are burned, the damage will take decades to heal.

• Cultural Loss: Villages like Nor Ghazanchi are not only homes to Armenian families — they are links to an unbroken heritage of worship, farming, and survival. Their destruction would be yet another erasure of Armenian identity in occupied territories.

• Human Risk: The landmines now exploding in the fire zones are the result of past wars, but their danger is very much alive today. These mines were planted in what were once Armenian self-defense lines, and they are now igniting with every sweep of the flames.

  
  

Despite controlling these territories since the forced exodus of Armenians in 2023, Azerbaijan has not ensured the safety, stability, or environmental protection of the land. They have done little to clear mines, replant forests, or protect Armenian heritage sites. Now, their failure to act swiftly is allowing fires to consume lands that once sustained thousands of Armenian families.

And while they publicize their firefighting efforts, the truth is that the fire continues to grow. The situation has reached a point where not only are the flames spreading, but unexploded ordnance is being uncovered — and detonating — across the forest zones. This makes any recovery effort more dangerous and more complex.

Artsakh’s forests, villages, and sacred spaces are burning — and with them, a piece of Armenia’s soul. This is not a natural disaster in isolation. It is a direct consequence of military occupation, neglect, and the ongoing denial of Armenians' right to live freely and safely in their ancestral land.

The international community must not ignore what is happening. The damage being done today is not just to the environment — it is to truth, to heritage, and to justice.

As Artsakh burns, Armenians around the world are watching with heartbreak and determination. This is our land. These are our forests. And this tragedy must be remembered not just as a wildfire, but as yet another assault on the Armenian homeland.

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