Frozen War Thaws in Russian Backyard as Karabakh Flares
- Casualties rise in frontline clashes between Armenians, Azeris
- Full-scale fighting could threaten energy infrastructure
Members of the armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh at their post along the line of contact with Azerbaijani forces in the eastern direction.
Photographer: Brendan Hoffman/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin plunges deeper into his military adventure in Syria, the specter of an older war much nearer to his own doorstep is reawakening.
From reinforced trenches reminiscent of World War One, Azeris and Armenians contesting the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region watch each other intently through binoculars. Separated by 300 meters (1,000 feet) of ground dotted with land mines, they’ve recently witnessed mounting casualties caused by ever-more powerful arsenals of weapons.