STEPANAKERT—After Azerbaijan launched a massive attack on all fronts of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic late Friday and early Saturday, the Artsakh Freedom Fighters’ Association has been flooded with Karabakh residents wanting to volunteer to go to the frontlines.

Alvaro Shekian, the head of the AFFA told Artsakhpress.am that hundreds of volunteers have already signed up to fight on Saturday.

“We are all ready and waiting for the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army command, and if the imperative calls, we will immediately head to the frontlines,” said Shekian.

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Prime Minister Araik Harutyunyan met with the volunteers Saturday and briefed them on the situation at the frontline. He also reassured them that “the Artsakh Defense Army is in complete control of the military situation and has inflicted heavy losses on the Azerbaijani army.”

“I’m glad to see so many people volunteering to fight. All of us will protect the borders of the Motherland if necessary. At this point I urge you to refrain from panic, keeping high the fighting spirit of our people,” said the Prime Minister.

“In my opinion, this is yet another expression of the enemy’s brutality. However, at this time, nothing can salvage them from us. I don’t understand, how many times must they lose for them to understand that they are weak, that they are not fighters and they can’t defeat us,” added Shekian.

“I am saying resolutely that when the time comes we will take part in the fighting. They [the Azerbaijanis] should begin to evacuate the residents of Brada,” explained Shekian, referring to a city on the immediate outskirts of the Artsakh-Azerbaijan border.