Russian analysts do not agree while assessing versions on use of Iskander in Karabakh war

Armenia may have a non-export version of Iskander missile systems, despite the Russia’s commitments not to provide such type of weapons to other countries, experts say. Direct sales to Yerevan of weapons intended for the Russian army have unlikely taken place, analyst Alexander Golts believes. He also doubts very much the possibility of Russia using Iskander missile systems during the Karabakh conflict.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Azerbaijani combat engineers found fragments of Iskander missiles while clearing mines in the city of Shusha. Some experts argue that missiles of that type are only in service with the Russian army. The Iskander scandal can seriously damage the Moscow’s image as a mediator in the Karabakh conflict, Baku believes.

Military expert Pavel Felgengauer suggests it is possible that Armenia used Iskander missiles at the end of the war “out of despair.” According to the expert, the Russian armed forces were unlikely launching Iskander missiles in the direction of Shusha, including from the military base in Gyumri, since such a step “did not make sense for the Russian Federation.”

Konstantin Sivkov, Doctor of Military Sciences, believes there will be no negative consequences for Moscow from the fact that Armenia used the non-export version of Iskander missile systems contrary to international agreements.

The expert associated the Nikol Pashinyan’s claims about the alleged combat-inefficiency of the Iskander missiles systems with the pro-Western position of the Armenian Prime Minister and his superficial military knowledge.

Military expert Alexander Golts admits that the remains of a missile found in Shusha may belong to some other military product, not an Iskander missile. The expert emphasizes that open deliveries of non-export versions of the Iskander missile systems to Armenia would be not beneficial for the Russian authorities.