Armenia

Non-combat losses and lost soldier

On January 9, at 06:20 [local time], the body of contract serviceman Karen Araik Karapetyan was found with a gunshot wound in the N combat position of the Defense Unit of the Defense Forces N, the Press Office of the Armenian Defense Ministry reported.

On the same day, at 11:30 [local time], the body of senior lieutenant Michael Samvel Danielyan was found with a gunshot wound in the N military unit conservation area.

On January 13, in severe weather conditions, on the way to moving from a combat position to a permanent location, the soldier of the Armenian Defense Force B lost contact with M. Despite the heavy rain and fog, the search and rescue operations continued. All necessary measures are taken to find the soldier.

Meeting with EEAS

On January 10, Suren Papikyan, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia, received Rory Domm, the Head of the Security Policy Division in the European External Action Service (EEAS), accompanied by Vassilis Maragos, the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Armenia, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. During the meeting, the perspectives on Armenia-European Union cooperation were discussed.

Azerbaijan

Local exercises

On January 10, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported that Operations Commando units conduct tactical-special exercises in accordance with the training plan for 2024 approved by the Defense Minister. According to the plan, the commandos, based on the received reconnaissance information, left the points of permanent deployment to assembly areas and moved toward the area where the sabotage group of the imaginary enemy was probably to commit sabotage. The commandos penetrated deep into the operation zone and accomplished the tasks of identifying, encircling, neutralizing the temporary shelters of the imaginary enemy, evacuating the wounded, and other activities. The main purpose of the tactical-special exercises conducted in harsh climate conditions is to further improve the practical skills of commandos, increase the units' combat capability, and apply camouflage measures appropriate to the terrain and weather conditions.

On the same day, test exams on evaluation of the mastery level of officers, warrant officers, and long-term active military servicemen of the Azerbaijan Army were held under the training plan of the current year. On the next day of the exams held in various training centers, tasks on driving tanks and infantry fighting vehicles in difficult areas and shooting from armored vehicles and small arms were accomplished. It should be noted that the focus of the test evaluation exams in the Azerbaijan Army is to check the combat training, knowledge, and skills of military personnel according to their qualifications and evaluate their professionalism.

On January 12, the commander's session in the Azerbaijan Army was held. At the sessions, the participants were given detailed information about various engineering obstacles and mine-detecting devices, and the rules for neutralizing anti-personnel and anti-tank mines were explained. In addition, the command staff was shown classes on various topics of combat training. Besides, the tasks of occupying the imaginary support point by the regulations have been accomplished.

On the same day, tactical-special exercises on increasing the professionalism of Operations Commando units were held. The next day, the commandos clarified the tasks and accomplished tactical redeployment activities in difficult terrain areas. The tasks of breaching the imaginary enemy defense and capturing the base point were successfully fulfilled. Commandos demonstrated high professionalism during the execution of tactical-special exercises focused on further improving the practical skills of military personnel.

Georgia

Purchase of Polish-made anti-missile complex

On January 12, the Georgian Defense Ministry reported that an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Defense of Georgia and the Polish company.

Georgia's Deputy Minister of Defense, Giorgi Khaindrava, met with the representatives of the Polish company.

The conversation touched upon the importance of imposing modern-type NATO standards in Georgia, which will help strengthen the country's defense capability. The sides also discussed plans for cooperation between the defense agency and the Polish company.

Later, an agreement on the purchase of a Polish-made anti-missile complex was signed. This document was prepared within the framework of the Georgian Defense Forces Development Program.