[7][5] By the late 1980s, the 23rd Guards was garrisoned in Kirovabad (renamed Ganja in 1989) in the Shahumyan region.

[9] Immediately following this, the larger scope of combat engagements in the area of Stepanakert took place, including the use of BM-21 "Grad" artillery and Mil Mi-24 assault helicopters through to February 1992.

[10] However, on June 21, 1992, the divisional column was prevented from departing Ganja by the civilian Azerbaijani population.

The Azerbaijanis demanded that the division surrender its military equipment during Azeri declaration of independence, and the division commander, General Major Yury Pokhamov, complied to avoid civilian casualties.

This was largely due to a lack of direction and indecision at Headquarters Transcaucasian Military District and at the General Staff.

This was largely due to about 50 of the remaining 350 personnel of the 366th Motor Rifle Regiment being Armenian, including the commander of the 2nd Battalion, Major Seyran Ohanyan.