Towards Karabakh: 166 Freight and Logistics

Towards Karabakh: 166 Freight and Logistics

Less than a week remains until Azerbaijan celebrates Victory Day in the 44-day Patriotic War: on November 8, 2020, the Azerbaijani army liberated Shusha from occupation, and a few days later Armenia acknowledged capitulation in the war that in Azerbaijan is called the Patriotic War.

In the Russian language, this term refers to a just war for the freedom and independence of the Motherland in the fight against foreign invaders. At the same time, the phrase “Patriotic War” implies not only the feat of fallen soldiers, not only the heroism of soldiers and officers on the battlefield, but also the contribution to victory made by the entire nation, from young to old.

The 44-day war will forever remain in the history of the Republic of Azerbaijan as an unprecedented example of unity and solidarity of the people.

How can one forget grandfather Hikmet Musaev from the village of Bash Kyungyut in the Sheki region, who donated everything he had during the war, 180 manats, for the needs of the army? How can one not be moved remembering Azerbaijani mothers who used their last food supplies to prepare sandwiches for soldiers at the front? How can one not recall the mass campaigns in Baku to collect warm clothing, socks, and cigarettes for Azerbaijani soldiers?

Every citizen of the country considered it their duty to contribute to achieving Victory. For those endlessly long 44 days, the country lived with one thought and one goal: “Everything for the front. Everything for Victory.”

From the first days of the war, the question arose of organizing the delivery of collected goods to the frontline zone. To solve this task, the logistics company 166 Freight and Logistics launched the “Towards Karabakh” project, announcing that absolutely everything needed by soldiers would be delivered to the front free of charge. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, the company’s trucks traveled to the frontline zone, handing over to representatives of the Ministry of Defense the items and products collected by citizens for soldiers.

Later, 166 and 156 joined forces with other companies to organize the collection and delivery of packages for soldiers. During the war, anyone could leave a package that would then be delivered free of charge either directly to soldiers on the front line or to families in frontline areas affected by enemy attacks.

It should also be noted that with the start of the war, more than 30 employees of 166 and 156 went to the front, where they fought bravely. Ahead of Victory Day, haqqin.az was able to speak with several of these heroes.

Joshgun Aliyev, 25 years old. Participant in the battles for the Khojavend, Fuzuli, and Jabrayil districts:

“I have been working in 166 for more than six years. I joined after completing my military service. Now I work in the towing service. Immediately after the start of the Patriotic War, I went to the front. I served in the engineering and sapper units. We were engaged in clearing roads of mines for our forward units, as well as clearing territories liberated by our army during the fighting. The enemy constantly shelled us with artillery, and it was difficult. In those hard moments, it brought me special joy and pride to see trucks with the logo of my own company 166. My coworkers delivered everything we soldiers needed to the frontline zone. We lacked nothing. After the war, at a meeting with the company’s management, I learned how many colleagues had fought at the front. I am grateful to my company. Although the war lasted 44 days, I spent 97 days at the front, and during all three months 166 paid my family my salary in triple amount. So while I was on the front line, I was at peace, knowing that everything was fine at home and my wife and children were not in need of anything. For a soldier at the front, such support is very important…”

It should be added that just a day after the start of the war, 166 Freight and Logistics also joined in transporting military equipment to combat areas (in total, 166 and 156 promptly delivered more than 100 thousand tons of strategic cargo to the front) and also volunteered to transport the belongings and goods of citizens returning to their native lands free of charge.

Firdovsi Orudzhzade, 32 years old. Participant in the battles for the liberation of the Fuzuli, Gubadli, Zangilan, and Jabrayil districts:

“The upcoming Victory Day is a special day for everyone. During the Patriotic War, Azerbaijan returned its historical territories, and now Azerbaijani refugees can finally return to their homes after 30 years of displacement. This was a war for all of us, but our Victory belongs to the thousands of young soldiers who did not live to see it. I know their souls are at peace. Thanks to them, not only were our lands returned, but also peace of mind was given to thousands of Azerbaijani mothers who will one day send their sons to military service.

As for me, I went to the front from the first days of the war, serving as a medic. During fierce fighting in the Fuzuli direction, I pulled a wounded comrade from the battlefield and was myself wounded in the chest by shrapnel from a mortar shell.

I must say that my experience working in 166, particularly in freight transportation, was very useful during the war. In the frontline zone, I had to drive the largest truck in our company. I will not go into details, but I will say that the company I work for made a significant contribution to our common Victory.

Anyone who was in the frontline zone during those days saw dozens of 166 trucks and tow trucks transporting heavy military equipment and various goods. This was a Victory for the entire nation, and I am proud to have contributed to it…”

Unfortunately, even just wars are not without losses. In the Patriotic War, Azerbaijan lost more than three thousand of its sons who became martyrs for the Motherland. The team of 156 fondly and proudly remembers their colleague Murad Mammadov, who gave his life for this Victory. Haqqin.az spoke with the mother of the martyr, Shargiya khanum:

“Murad was a very smart boy. He entered the faculty of philology at a university in Türkiye. For good academic performance, he was sent to Bulgaria, where he studied for the entire second year. After graduation, Murad returned to the country and served his mandatory military service in the Aghjabadi district.

The 156 evacuation service, where Murad got a job, was his first workplace. When the war began, my son went to the front and fought heroically. Murad became a martyr in battles in the Hadrut direction. He was posthumously awarded the medals ‘For the Motherland’ and ‘For the Liberation of Khojavend.’

On September 25, my son’s birthday, his colleagues and the management of 156 visited me. In front of our house in the Nizami district, a memorial complex was opened to honor Murad’s memory.

Our martyrs gave their lives for the Motherland, and the Motherland will always remember them. We are surrounded by the care of the state. But I cannot accept help from others and give everything to orphanages…”

166 is proud of its employees who took part in the Patriotic War. The management regularly meets with them and is aware of their problems. Veterans note that one of these memorable meetings took place on the eve of Novruz.

At the beginning of the event, the memory of those who fell for the liberation of Karabakh, particularly company employee and martyr Murad Mammadov, was honored with a minute of silence, and gratitude was expressed to the war participants for their courage and bravery. Speaking to the veterans, company director Aqil Zeynalov said that the 166 team had mobilized all its forces to support the state, the army, and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

Jeyhun Heydarli, 24 years old. Participant in the battles for the liberation of the Khojavend, Zangilan, and Jabrayil districts:

“I have been working as a driver in the towing service of 166 for almost two years. From the very beginning of the war, I went to the front and served in the infantry. Our group supported advancing forces and took part in battles in the Khojavend, Zangilan, and Jabrayil directions.

This was truly a Patriotic War that showed the world the unity of the Azerbaijani people. I know that the company I work for made an invaluable contribution to our common cause. I will be honest: while I was in the combat zone, I did not see the trucks of my company. But I know that my colleagues worked day and night to deliver cargo to the front.

I was seriously wounded in battles for a height in Khojavend and also suffered a concussion. I spent three months in the hospital and about nine more months in rehabilitation. Throughout this year, the company paid me my salary, and my family was not in need of anything.

I admit that the war had a serious impact on my mental and emotional state. I became more aggressive, losing my temper quickly. Sometimes I would get into conflicts with colleagues or management for no reason. I am sincerely grateful to the management of 166 for their understanding and the leniency they have shown me. In another place, I would probably have been fired long ago.

My colleagues often go to the liberated territories on business to deliver goods there. But I am not yet ready. I know that visiting these places will bring back the horrors of war. Still, I am proud that I was able to contribute to our Victory.”

Namik Akhmedov, participant in the battles for the liberation of the Fuzuli, Khojavend, Jabrayil districts, and Shusha:

“Even before the start of the war, I went to the military enlistment office and volunteered. On September 27, I was called and went to the front. I served as an infantryman. We were in the second echelon, entering liberated settlements immediately after special forces units. During the war, I remembered the unity our people showed in full measure.

This was truly a Patriotic War.

In civilian life, I have worked for almost seven years in 166 as an assistant truck driver. My colleagues delivered everything necessary to the front, from weapons to food. Since the end of the war, I have not yet visited the liberated territories, but I plan to do so next month. I want to congratulate the entire Azerbaijani people on the upcoming Victory Day. We must pray for the souls of our martyrs, without whose sacrifice this victory would not have been possible. I am sure that if war breaks out again tomorrow, thousands of young Azerbaijanis, including myself, will go without hesitation to defend our Motherland.”