Robert Abajyan

On the night of 1–2 April 2016 the Azerbaijani side launched large-scale attacks along the contact line between Artsakh and Azerbaijan. Being armed with tanks, the Azerbaijani side tried to seize Armenian positions. After two failed attempts, Azeri forces withdrew to their initial positions and resumed the artillery bombardments on the Armenian positions. After the death of the commander, Robert Abajyan, having suffered a wound in his leg by that time, took upon himself to proceed with the resistance. Noting that trench was running out of ammunition, he sent the soldiers to get some bullets. During this time the enemy managed to penetrate into the position. Abajian continued to fight alone from the cell against a large number of enemy forces, at the same time contacting with the battalion commander and providing important information regarding the current situation of the position. After spotting the approaching enemy, he attracted their attention by raising his hands and pretended to surrender, while secretly keeping an exposed hand grenade. Allowing the soldiers to approach, Abajyan blew himself up and killed several Azeris with him.

Junior sergeant Robert Abajyan was posthumously awarded the highest Honorary Title "Hero of Artsakh" and the Order of the "Golden Eagle", “for exclusive bravery and courage shown during the defense of the Artsakh state border.”