The Abandoned Nagorno-Karabakh landscape showcases the consequences of the quick defeat suffered by Armenia.

In the mountains of Nagorno-Karabakh, evidence of the rapid loss of control by Armenians during a military operation by Azerbaijan was discovered. Abandoned outposts contained leftovers from meals, log books, and personal belongings. The region was seized by Azerbaijani forces within 24 hours after three decades of Armenian control. While approximately 200 Azerbaijani soldiers were reported to have died and 500 were wounded, little is known about the specifics of these casualties. Reporters were not given access to certain areas, including the regional capital, due to security concerns. The city appeared deserted with abandoned possessions. The exodus of approximately 120,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh was not prompted by force but rather by their own choice. Azerbaijan claims this was a counter-terrorism action targeting legitimate military sites. Meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused Azerbaijan of ethnic cleansing, and the EU and others condemned their operation. The conflict between the two populations has deep historical roots, and both sides have experienced previous waves of fleeing civilians. In the most recent clash in 2020, thousands were killed, and a peace agreement was brokered by Russia that returned some territories to Azerbaijan. The recapture of the remaining parts of Karabakh was seen as a relief by Azerbaijani residents who had been displaced for 30 years.