Azerbaijan reported that 12 of its soldiers were killed in action and that a Mil Mi-24 helicopter and tank were also destroyed. Armenia said 18 ethnic-Armenian soldiers had died in the fighting, among the worst in two decades.
Is it possible or probable that's code word for separatists, and not actual Armenian soldiers?
It undoubtedly means separatists. "Code word" suggests they're trying to hide the fact though, they're not at all. Nagorno-Karabakh Republic considers itself independent. If the Armenians were being biased, they would say "Nagorno-Karabakh soldiers had died" (which they actually probably did). Ethnic Armenians is about as neutral as you can get, as they are internationally recognized as a ethnic Armenian citizens of Azerbaijan.
