Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the People`s Republic of China

Khojaly was a settlement of Azerbaijan situated in the strategic point on the road Agdam-Shusha, Khankendi (Stepanakert) — Askeran near the only airport in Karabakh. Its population was more than 7 thousand people. Just before the conflict It had recently acquired the status of the republican town due to the increase of the population (many Turks — meskhets with families escaping from Fergana and Azerbaijan refugees from Armenia took shelter here), construction of new blocks of flats and branches of powerful industrial enterprises. Late on February 25 the city was under the intensive fire from the town of Khankendi and Askeran. The airport and neighboring houses were destroyed. More than 150 people defending the airport were killed by sporadic artillery shelling of regiment No 366. The next day, on February 26 the fire shooting grew heavier and more fierce. After powerful artillery shelling the armed men launched a massive attack. Armoured vehicles of Soviet Army regiment No 366 were in the first rows of the attackers. They were followed by Armenian armed bandit units. The weak self-defence of the town was overwhelmed by. superior forces and artillery shelling. The fight continued even after the aggressors had entered the town. The residents defended every house and street. The Armenian armed men backed by armoured vehicles killed the defenders of the districts and houses. The most valuable property and personal possessions were loaded onto the trucks and taken away towards the town of Khankendi.