Urbicide is as much about destroying a community’s identity as it is about destroying its physical space, according to a new study examining the cities of Grozny in Chechnya, Aghdam in Azerbaijan and Aleppo in Syria.
The study, published in the Journal of Urban Affairs, found that the destruction of historically and culturally significant cities can serve as a political message, emphasising the victory of one side over another.
The authors described urbicide as the intentional destruction of urban areas, the forced displacement of populations and the loss of historically and culturally significant buildings. They said the three cities examined held symbolic value for competing sides in their respective conflicts.
Grozny was the centre of the Chechen independence movement. Aleppo is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, while Aghdam holds strategic and cultural importance for Azerbaijan in the Garabagh region.
Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Centre of Analysis of International Relations, said Azerbaijan had been forced to rebuild an area in the Garabagh region comparable in size to Lebanon.
“For those 26 years of occupation, between 1994 and 2020, those territories were completely destroyed.
“And Azerbaijan, after the liberation of those territories in 2020, the Azerbaijan side found that those territories, the whole infrastructure, completely destroyed, erased. Not only the buildings, but pipelines. You know, [the] sewage system, everything.”
The study’s authors also highlighted what they described as a new phenomenon, whereby cities are deliberately kept in an uninhabitable state after fighting has ended in order to prevent displaced residents from returning.
Shafiyev said this method had been observed in Garabagh, where cities were destroyed after the conflict had ended.
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meetin...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of having a “bullying mentality” at the United Nations Gene...
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the M...
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York on Wednesday, as Washington pushes for an end to the war in Ukraine and Kyiv and Moscow continue to strike energy infrastructure.
U.S. President Donald Trump is addressing the UN General Assembly as world leaders gather in New York for the 81st session. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and diplomacy set to dominate the event.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
U.S. President Donald Trump said his team held a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation in New York that he described as “very good” and “productive”, with another round of talks scheduled soon.
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and international cooperation remain at the centre of discussions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of having a “bullying mentality” at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York as Tehran and Washington remain divided over ending the war, despite holding their first indirect talks in months.
ICTWEEK Uzbekistan 2026 is putting foreign investment in the country’s technology sector under the spotlight. More than 2,000 foreign guests and investors are taking part in this year’s event, alongside more than 200 international and local IT companies and 30 venture funds.
Uzbekistan is expanding its digital government system, with thousands of state functions set to move online in the coming years, as digital government takes focus at ICTWEEK Uzbekistan 2026 in Tashkent.
Iran has confirmed holding indirect talks with the U.S., mediated by Qatar, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, reiterating Tehran’s conditions for de-escalating tensions.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace is set to unveil a six-month, $2.45 billion recovery plan for Gaza on Wednesday, covering housing, infrastructure, healthcare and security, Axios reported.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment