A fighter of the First War. This is how this woman, who runs a small restaurant with her daughter near the market in Stepanakert, introduces herself.
It’s not so surprising: the active participation of women in combat is common outside of conventional inter-state conflicts, particularly when a territory rebels or resists occupation. This was the case during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. Amid the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the birth of new states, the armed forces were not yet organized. Any volunteer, even if equipped with a hunting rifle or other makeshift weapon, could be called upon to defend their village or neighbourhood. While only 115 women were officially granted the status of veteran from the first war, many more took part in it without official recognition.
Since then, things have evolved significantly in Armenia. Over the past ten years, the feminization of the army has been encouraged. With a population that is both declining (fewer than 3 million people) and aging, all available human resources are welcomed. Women who have joined military academies are now taking on all kinds of roles, including combat positions. They are reportedly particularly valued as snipers. Even the Prime Minister’s wife has symbolically committed herself to this cause. In 2020, she organized and participated in a combat training course for a group of women from Nagorno-Karabakh, later establishing an all-female platoon.
Alongside the regular army, several paramilitary organizations aim to train tens of thousands of volunteers in territorial defence and survival techniques. Their popularity has grown significantly since the Second War, and it is estimated that nearly half of their trainees are women. This enthusiasm speaks volumes about the growing sense of threat that Armenians feel weighing heavily on the future of their country.
