TUESDAY February 2, 2021: 'ARMENIA'S GROUNDHOG DAY' from ZUMA Press award winning photographers Chris Huby and Adrien Vautier of Le Pictorium: Armenia took a cold shower on November 9, 2020 as history repeated itself and like the movie Groundhog Day - where history repeats itself - civilians are victims again, and the leaders do not see reality. There are no winners in war. 44 days last autumn, Armenia fought a tooth-and-nail defense against Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, home to thousands of Armenians. Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a fierce six-week battle over the region until signing a Moscow-brokered deal to halt the hostilities. For Armenians uprooted from their homes, and for Azerbaijanis returning to uninhabitable towns, 'It's going to be very hard to forgive.' Welcome to: 'ARMENIA'S GROUNDHOG DAY'
© zReportage.com Story of the Week #772: TUESDAY February 2, 2021: 'ARMENIA'S GROUNDHOG DAY' from ZUMA Press award winning photographers Chris Huby and Adrien Vautier of Le Pictorium: Armenia took a cold shower on November 9, 2020 as history repeated itself and like the movie Groundhog Day - where history repeats itself - civilians are victims again, and the leaders do not see reality. There are no winners in war. 44 days last autumn, Armenia fought a tooth-and-nail defense against Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, home to thousands of Armenians. Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a fierce six-week battle over the region until signing a Moscow-brokered deal to halt the hostilities. For Armenians uprooted from their homes, and for Azerbaijanis returning to uninhabitable towns, 'It's going to be very hard to forgive.' Welcome to: 'ARMENIA'S GROUNDHOG DAY'

A metal cross stands on a hilltop overlooking the city of Goris. The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war was between Azerbaijan, supported by Turkey, and the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh together with Armenia, in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. It was the latest escalation of an unresolved conflict over the region, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but partially governed by Artsakh, a breakaway state with an Armenian ethnic majority.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

Two priests wearing army fatigues, return to take shelter in the church of Chuchi after a bombing raid over the city.
© Adrien Vautier/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

A car on the icy road to Artsakh (Upper Karabagh). The winter here is hard and temperatures regularly drop below zero.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

On the top floor of a building hit by enemy bombing, a family empties the apartment of their son who left for the front lines. After the ceasefire Azerbaijan retained the areas of Nagorno-Karabakh that it captured during the war, all Armenian-occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh were ceded back to Azerbaijan.
© Adrien Vautier/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

'Grandmother and Grandfather'' is a massive stone sculpture located at the northern exit of Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno Karabagh, on the road to Askeran. This monument has become the symbol of this self-proclaimed republic.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

NUNE GABRELIAN, in the center, a young grandmother of 49, came to find refuge in Goris after leaving Martakert, in Karabakh. She, her two daughters, her daughter-in-law and her 9 grandchildren live in a requisitioned nursery school.
© Adrien Vautier/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

A street sign appeals for the recruitment of young soldiers in the town of Erevan.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

A team of doctors from France's Lyon University Hospital operates on the arm of a soldier who was wounded during the Nagorno-Karabakh war. Doctors came to Armenia from round the globe to help, and many operate on the victims of the war.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

On the top floor of a building hit by enemy bombing, a family empties the apartment belonging to their son who left to join the fighting on the front lines.
© Adrien Vautier/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

The faithful gather inside the cathedral Sainte-Mere de Dieu, and participate in the Christmas mass, the atmosphere is tense.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

Worshippers light candles inside the cathedral Sainte-Mere de Dieu, and make their prayers.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

People gather for a mass burial of soldiers who died at the front in the Yerevan military cemetery.
© Adrien Vautier/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

Severe damage and a collapsed roof inside the bombed Chouchi church, it was hit during a raid while journalists and civilians were inside.
© Adrien Vautier/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

The destroyed Chouchi church, which was bombed while journalists and civilians were inside.
© Adrien Vautier/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

Villagers at home after the ceasefire. Half of this village will have to be ceded and some land is returned to Azerbaijan. The villagers, distraught, save what they can from their houses before moving and abandoning them.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

A refugee receives a meal in state-allocated housing, where national and international aid associations provide care. Some 100,000 Armenians fled their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh after the armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

Refugees are given shelter in state-allocated housing, and national and international associations are taking care of them. Some 100,000 Armenians fled their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh after the armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

An Armenian woman leaves flowers while mourning for the victims of the 2020 war in Nagorno Karabagh. Casualties have been high, according to official figures released by each country, Armenia states 3,360 troops were killed, while Azerbaijan lost 2,854 troops with 50 missing in action.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

A local woman with produce for sale at the central market in Stepanakert. The market was bombed by Azerbaijan during the war and has since been rebuilt.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

NIKOL PASHINYAN, Prime Minister and Head of State of Armenia. Russian President Putin, Azerbaijani President Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10, and agreed Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region.
© Adrien Vautier/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

Some 100,000 Armenians fled their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh after the armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Here a sibling group finds itself housed in a city apartment, waiting for something better.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

Sister Rebecca helps take care of war refugees at the Our Lady of Armenia Boghossian Educational Center in Gyumri. The center was founded to help homeless children.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

Several young Armenian soldiers stand guard in the village. Under the ceasefire agreement, some land is returned to Azerbaijan, and half of this village will have to be ceded.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press

Frost covers the hillsides at the entrance to the town of Stepanakart. The city came under intense bombardment during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.
© Chris Huby/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA Press