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Participant to Artsakh war, literature expert, board member to Yerkrapah Volunteer Union Vardan Devrikyan who headed for Artsakh on April 3 and joined the Defense Army have no idea when would be back. “The question should be addressed to Aliyev,” he joked then added’ ''Of course, not Aliyev - our army with its actions will set the date for our return. We may stay as long as necessary,'' devrikyan told Panorama.am

The war veteran drew parallels with the 1992-1994 war and the recent four-day military operations.
“Several similarities and only two differences are observed. The first difference is in the fact that when people in 1992 left Martakert they called it Martakert migration, as people thought they would never return to their settlements as it happened in 1915. In these days people leaving Talish and Mataghis never though of leaving the place forever. That was an organized evacuation; people were aware that was not a migration and that the frontline would be restored.  This fact demonstrates we are already devoid of migrant psychology. Everybody realized that failures at war were not excluded and at the same time understood that was a fight run by a state with army. There was the understanding that significant achievement will follow possible failures.”  

“People left their houses through taking only bed linen to spend the night in a nearby village under some roof. They were assured to be back soon. Some people even did not leave their places being sure the frontline will not be broken. One similarity is that the adversary as in the previous war failed to cause fear and panic, undermine the belief in our army, people.”
  
Devrikyan reflected on the volunteer movements saying he doubted initially about the number of people to be ready to joint the army.

«What happened later exceeded all expectations. The problem was not gathering people in order to put more experienced veterans next to our 18-19-year-old soldiers, but the large number, as we had to ask some of them to wait in Armenia. I lived through touching moments, which reminded of literary heroes and stories. Yerkrapah working in the villages and fields took cars and came to Yerevan. The main conclusion to be drawn is that allegations that the main people left Armenian and only the weak and oppressed stayed appeared to be wrong. The most viable and the struggling part is still in Armenia.   Veterans of Artsakh war visited, whose grandsons were serving in army. They wanted to visit the site where their children were. A father and son came who wished to join their grandson and the son respectively,” Devrikyan told.

He assured that the military knowledge as well as the experience from the war strengthened the defense line even more.

“We saw a harmonious consolidation of several generations,” Devrikyan emphasized, adding that 18 years old behaved like 40 years old, while veterans aged 40-50 felt younger.

Devrikyan wondered over the self-confidence, decisiveness and will of the 18-19 years old. Soldiers took offence at remarks like stay strong, do not be afraid. They were concentrated solely on defending the frontline. They felt no fear and the only idea was about counteracting the enemy.”

Devrikyan said 18-year-old soldiers, the high military commanders, and volunteers were united in strengthening the defense lines, making a decent counterattack.