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Suddenly, I heard an explosion. I turned to see I didn’t have a leg anymore. I tied my uniform belt not to bleed out. As soon as I finished tying, I heard another explosion, my other leg was gone too. I tied the shoelace of my military boot around my leg. Lying there, I was waiting for my friends to come help me, when I felt something firm under my head. Turning around I saw it was a mine. Digging with my bare hands I took it out… I was excited with the visit of National hero Defense Minister. He told me having a knee meant having a leg. I asked the Minister to let me continue my duty. I’m very pleased he met me halfway and promised to give me a chance to continue my service at a military unit in Noyemberyan, my birthplace.
Davit Grigoryan, soldier

We were at the military unit. They started firing. We were sent to assist in the frontline. The shell exploded near me. I’ve already undergone surgery. I feel really well. I want to recover soon to get back to the guys.
Narek Vardumyan, soldier

Perhaps, it was a grenade explosion. At first, I didn’t realize by foot was gone. I wanted to get up, but I couldn’t… I crawled 50-60 meters to get back to the guys. They stopped the bleeding in the dugout. I said I couldn’t fight, but asked the guys to let me charge the weapons to make it quick. I was charging the weapons and giving them to the guys. There was no time to think about my foot. It hurts me the most that I have lost friends in the battle. The Turks will pay for this.
Arman Avetisyan, soldier

Eight months are left for me to finish my service, I had 11 shifts on the front. The adversary fires all the time. It wasn’t news to us. We always show resistance. Suddenly, their tanks appeared… I was wounded on the arm. We are not afraid of the Turks, be they in tanks or on a spaceship. We’ve always taught them a lesson, and we’re going to do so.
Erik Alukhanyan, soldier

I’ve come here to thank our soldiers, who courageously defended our homeland and repulsed the adversary. I’ve come here to prove with my example that you can live with one hand with your head high, proud and surrounded with love… And be happy with the thought that the peace in your homeland was established with your own blood.
Sargis Stepanyan, Major

Copyright belongs to Hay Zinvor newspaper reporter, Gayane Poghosyan.
Translated by Panorama.am.