For the past five days, rural residents in Armenia’s provinces of Shirak and in the town of Gyumri have been collecting tires to be used to strengthen the frontline fortifications in Artsakh.

As of yesterday, some 15,000 tires, in all sizes, have been collected.

Arsen Vardanyan. one of the originators of the continuing tire drive, said they started in Gyumri and that the villages joined in soon after.

“Community mayors, members of village councils and ordinary people started bringing in their tires. They even brought in their spare tire,” said Vardanyan.

Getting the tires to Artsakh is another problem faced by Vardanyan and his colleagues. After combing the province, they only located a truck or two.

In response to those who question the merits of using rubber tires as a means to fortify frontline positions, Vardanyan, who did his stint in the army, says they don’t know what they are talking about.

“Tires have insulating quality in that they not only capture the fragments of an exploding shell but also soften the reverberation of the blast. These tires, placed along the ramparts, are then filled with sand,” Vardanyan explained.

Vardanyan said that the tires collected in Shirak will probably wind up along the Armenian border with Azerbaijan in Tavoush and Gegharkunik provinces.