The Crew Of A Captured Tank – The Story Of One Photo

This photo was taken in June 1992, in the most difficult and tragic time of the Artsakh war.

At that time, our units engaged in the toughest battles would often retreat in front of superior enemy forces reinforced by Russian units, Turkish advisers, and mercenaries from near and far abroad.

The photo shows the crew of a captured T-72 tank – commander Tigran Gasparyan, gunner Nairi Barseghyan, driver-mechanic Slava Poghosyan, and the dog Tuzik. All of them were from Stepanakert. A month later, on July 29, 1992, three of them were killed in action. This is how we won.

Ashot Safaryan