I was in Armenia in September 2020, when I received news that war had started. Samvel Saryan said in the framework of the “Second Artsakh War։ Those Who live and help to live” series of Iravaban.net.
“I went to Artsakh on the same day. 28 September was my mother’s birthday, I went to our house, left the car, I didn’t even have time to wish my mother a ‘Happy Birthday’. I went to the military commissariat, volunteered and we went to Mataghis with our group. We were in battles until 3 October, and from 3 October we left Mataghis, having wounded and casualties. On 13 October, the commander informs that we have to enter into a hot battle, there is an important position. At the moment we were going to the position, we saw that it was a rocket attack, we did not manage to position ourselves, I was seriously injured by the drone strike in that field. 17 people died, 6 people were injured. My grandfather’s friend was with us. I remember that he came and pulled frpm mu bulletproof vest. At that time I didn’t understand what was happening, it was smoke and I could see nothing, but I was screaming in pain, that’s how they found me. I realized that there was a big wound in my leg,” Samvel said.
The participant of the war siad that in a few minutes he remembered his whole life and thought that maybe this was the end.
“One of the boys took off his belt and tied my leg to stop the bleeding. Perhaps within half an hour the emergency vehicles came. They took us to the hospital in Martakert, but during that time we were taken out of the cars four times because the enemy always targeted the vehicles transporting the wounded,” Samvel said.
He was brought to Yerevan in extremely serious condition. After 4 operations, it was decided that Samvel’s leg should be amputated.
“We must move forward, we must do everything to adapt to these new conditions, because we have no other option and help each other. It occurred to me that a platform should be used. First, I opened a TikTok, then Instagram, in order to take pictures of our recovery process, post it, and why not, to our own lives,” Samvel says and emphasizes that they are receiving positive feedback.
Details in the video.
Hasmik Sargsyan
