Today marks six years since the martyrdom of Azerbaijan’s National Hero, Major General of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, and Deputy Commander – Chief of Staff of the 3rd Army Corps of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, Polad Hashimov.
“Elchi” reminds that Polad Hashimov was born on January 2, 1975, in the Vandam settlement of the Gabala district.
Admitted to the Baku Higher Combined Arms Command School on August 1, 1992, Polad Hashimov graduated in 1995 with a specialization in “motorized infantry.” In July 2014, he entered the War College of the Armed Forces and received a master’s degree in “military management” in 2016.
In November 1992, during the First Karabakh War, Polad Hashimov participated in battles for the defense of the villages of Marzili and Novruzlu in the Aghdam district. While training as part of the 702nd Motorized Infantry Brigade, Polad Hashimov fought in the battles for the “Guzgu,” “Koroglu,” and “Omar” posts during the Murovdağ operation in February 1994. That same year, he was sent by the Ministry of Defense to the Infantry School located in the Tuzla district of Istanbul for three months of training.
After the end of the First Karabakh War, Polad Hashimov served continuously in military units located in frontline zones. Between 1995 and 2017, Polad Hashimov served in various positions, ranging from motorized infantry platoon commander to military unit commander.
Polad Hashimov received the military rank of “major” at the age of 28, and on June 24, 2003, he was awarded the “For Military Services” medal by Decree No. 887 of the National Leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev.
Six years later, Polad Hashimov received the military rank of “lieutenant colonel” and was awarded the “For the Fatherland” medal by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, on June 25, 2009. In June 2014, for his distinction in performing his official duties and the tasks assigned to his military unit, he was awarded the 3rd degree “For Service to the Fatherland” order by Decree No. 575 of President Ilham Aliyev.
Starting from the night of April 1 to 2, 2016, intense fighting broke out between units of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Armed Forces in the Tartar and Jabrayil-Fizuli directions of the front. During the military operations that went down in history as the April Battles, Polad Hashimov was the Deputy Commander – Chief of Staff of the 1st Army Corps. The management of the battles in the direction of the Tartar district was entrusted specifically to him. During the night battles, favorable positions and strategic points in the Talish direction of the Tartar district, including the Talish height, were liberated from occupation by the Azerbaijani Army.
Colonel Polad Hashimov was awarded the 3rd degree “For Service to the Fatherland” order by Decree No. 1967 of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, dated April 20, 2016, for his special services in preserving the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and for his distinction in performing tasks assigned to the Armed Forces.
For his services in managing the battles in the Tartar district during the April Battles, Polad Hashimov was gifted an apartment. Despite living in a rented apartment, Polad Hashimov donated that apartment to the family of a soldier who became a martyr during the April Battles.
On June 24, 2019, by Decree No. 1286 of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Polad Hashimov was granted the supreme military rank of “major general.” With this, Polad Hashimov became the first military officer from Gabala to receive the rank of general in the history of Azerbaijan since Ismail Bey Gutgashinli, who lived in the 19th century.
On July 12, 2020, starting from the afternoon, units of the Armenian army shelled the positions of the State Border Service in the Tovuz district section of the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border using artillery installations. As a result of the retaliatory measures taken by the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, the Armenian army’s attempt to attack was suppressed, and the Armenian army was pushed back.
During the night from July 12 to 13, tense moments continued in the Tovuz district section of the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border. In the night battles involving artillery and mortars, the Armenian army’s stronghold, artillery installations, and personnel were destroyed by the fire of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces units. On the afternoon of July 13, punitive measures were continued by the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. As a result of these measures, the Armenian army’s firing positions, more than 20 personnel, a battalion headquarters, and other military targets were destroyed by the precise fire of the Azerbaijani Army.
During the night from July 13 to 14 and in the morning hours, intense fighting continued in the Tovuz district section of the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border. As a result of the punitive measures taken to suppress the activities of the Armenian army during the night battles, various types of military vehicles, combat equipment, reserves located in the depth of the defense, and personnel were destroyed.
Major General Polad Hashimov became a martyr on the morning of July 14, 2020, while fighting on the front line alongside the soldiers under his command in the direction of the Tovuz district. In the battles that lasted for nearly a week, Colonel Ilgar Mirzayev, Major Namig Ahmadov, Major Anar Novruzov, Senior Lieutenant Rashad Mahmudov, Warrant Officer Ilgar Zeynalli, Warrant Officer Yashar Babayev, long-term active military serviceman (MAHHXHQ) soldier Elchin Mustafazade, MAHHXHQ Sergeant Vugar Sadigov, MAHHXHQ soldier Nazim Ismayilov, Senior Soldier Elshad Mammadov, and soldier Khayyam Dashdamirov also attained martyrdom.
Polad Hashimov is the first and only general of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces to become a martyr during military operations.
The farewell ceremony for Major General Polad Hashimov, who became a martyr during the Tovuz battles, took place on July 15. He was laid to rest in the Second Alley of Honor.
During his visit to the Gabala district on July 29, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, stated that Polad Hashimov’s name should be immortalized and gave instructions accordingly.
According to Decree No. 2337 of President Ilham Aliyev dated December 9, 2020, Polad Israyil oglu Hashimov was posthumously awarded the title of National Hero of Azerbaijan for his special services in restoring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and for the bravery he displayed while performing combat missions.
On May 7, 2021, the name of Pavel Nakhimov Street in Baku was changed to Polad Hashimov. On July 22, 2021, a park bearing the name of Azerbaijan’s National Hero, martyr Major General Polad Hashimov, was opened in the Khatai district of Baku.