Armenak Urfanyan ( hy, Արմենակ Ուրֆանյան; 28 January 1990 – 2 April 2016) was an

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...

serviceman in the

Artsakh Defense Army The Artsakh Defence Army ( hy, Արցախի Հանրապետության պաշտպանության բանակ, Artsakhi Hanrapetut’yan pashtpanut’yan banak) is the defence force of the breakaway Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Est ...

, captain of the

Armed Forces of Armenia The Armed Forces of Armenia ( hy, Հայաստանի զինված ուժեր, Hayastani zinvats uzher), sometimes referred to as the Armenian Army ( hy, Հայկական Բանակ, Haykakan Banak), is the national military of Armenia. It consist ...

, participant of the

Four-Day War The 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, also known as the Four-Day War,, IPA: ʰɑroɾjɑ pɑtɛɾɑzm az, Dördgünlük müharibə April War,; or April clashes, began along the Nagorno-Karabakh line of contact on 1 April 2016 with the Artsakh D ...

. In 2020 he was posthumously awarded the

Hero of Artsakh Hero of Artsakh ( hy, Արցախի հերոս, Artsakhi heros) is the highest title of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh. According to the official website of the President of Artsakh, the title Hero of Artsakh "is awarded for exceptional se ...

military award Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. DoD Manual 1348.33, 2010, Vol. 3 A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medal ...

, which is the highest honorary title of the self-proclaimed

Republic of Artsakh Artsakh, officially the Republic of Artsakh () or the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (),, is a list of states with limited recognition, breakaway state in the South Caucasus whose territory is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan ...

. During the

, Urafanyan realized that it was impossible to resist the Azerbaijani forces, exceeding in number and military equipment, he decided to fight by himself, commanding the soldiers to retreat.

Kyaram Sloyan Kyaram or Qyaram Sloyan ( hy, Քյարամ Սլոյան; 27 April 1996 – 1/2 April 2016) was an Artsakh Defense Army soldier who was killed during the 2016 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes. After his death, he was beheaded, with videos and pictur ...

, Robert Abajyan and Andranik Zohrabyan fell with their commander and others were wounded.

Biography

Armenak Urfanyan was born on 28 January 1990 in

Yerevan Yerevan ( , , hy, Երևան , sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Y ...

. In 1992 he moved to

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

with his family. He was the youngest son in the family. As a child, he made up his mind to become a military. He began practicing a sport. He was a triple champion of

Taekwondo ''Taekwondo'', ''Tae Kwon Do'' or ''Taekwon-Do'' (; ko, 태권도/跆拳道 ) is a Korean form of martial arts involving punching and kicking techniques, with emphasis on head-height kicks, spinning jump kicks, and fast kicking techniques. T ...

Military service

After returning from Russia, Urfanyan was admitted to the Military Institute of the RA Ministry of Defense. Urfanyan's fellow soldiers stated that he completely devoted himself to the military service, servicemen and his fatherland. After studying, he received the rank of lieutenant officer. At the age of 26 he received the military rank of captain and was appointed platoon commander on the front line.

Four-Day War

Overnight 1-2 April 2016, Urfanyan and his troops came under enemy fire in the area of a military post located near

Martakert Martakert ( hy, Մարտակերտ, also , ) or Aghdara ( az, Ağdərə ) is a town ''de facto'' in the breakaway Republic of Artsakh as the administrative capital of its Martakert Province, ''de jure'' in the Tartar District of Azerbaijan, in ...

. Captain Urfanyan, together with his fellow soldiers fought back against the Azerbaijani forces for hours. During the battle, Urfanyan destroyed multiple attacking enemy fighters and one engineering-reconnaissance armored vehicle. He was killed in action from tank fire.

Funeral

On 6 April 2016, Armenak Urfanyan was buried in the Yerablur Military Pantheon.

Memorials

* A street in Artsakh’s

town has been named after Armenak Urfanyan. * On 30 June 2016, a monument was erected by

Yerkrapah Volunteer Union Yerkrapah Volunteer Union ( hy, «Երկրապահ» կամավորական միություն, ԵԿՄ ''«Yerkrapah» kamavorakan miut'yun, YeKM'') or Yerkrapah Union of Veterans, meaning ''Defenders of the Land'', is an Armenian non-governmental ...

in the position where Armenak Urfanyan, Robert Abajyan,

and Andranik Zohrabyan were killed during the Four-Day War. * The Homeland Defender’s Rehabilitation Center in Yerevan opened a classroom named after Armenak Urfanyan. * The Fund named after Armenak Urfanyan was launched by his mother in memory of all fallen soldiers of the Four-Day War.

Awards

* On 6 April 2016, by the decree of the President of the Republic of Artsakh

Bako Sahakyan Bako Sahaki Sahakyan ( hy, Բակո Սահակի Սահակյան; born 30 August 1960) is an Artsakhi politician who served as the third president of the ''de facto''-independent Republic of Artsakh from 2007 to 2020. He is the longest-serving p ...

, Armenak Urfanyan was posthumously awarded the "Combat Service" medal for his courage in defending the state border of the Republic of Artsakh. * On 28 May 2016, Armenak Urfanyan was posthumously awarded the "Combat Cross" Order of the 1st degree by the decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia

Serzh Sargsyan Serzh Azati Sargsyan ( hy, Սերժ Ազատի Սարգսյան, ; born 30 June 1954)Of ...

. * On 29 August 2020, by the decree of the President of the

Arayik Harutyunyan Arayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan ( hy, Արայիկ Վլադիմիրի Հարությունյան; born 14 December 1973) is an Armenian politician who has been serving as the President of Artsakh since 2020. He was formerly the 1st State Minister fr ...

, Armenak Urfanyan has been posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Artsakh.

Literature

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Urfanyan, Armenak 1990 births 2016 deaths Armenian military personnel killed in action Heroes of Artsakh