01:00Mandatory credit: Russian Defence Ministry
Russian peacekeeping forces continued evacuating civilians from what the Defence Ministry described as the 'most dangerous areas' of Karabakh on Wednesday, following the launch of an Azerbaijani 'anti-terrorist' operation in the region.
Footage shows Russian servicemen helping women and children off military trucks and into safer territory, while medics treated the injured and stitched up wounds.
The Russian Defence Ministry stated that peacekeepers had evacuated about 2,000 people from the Mardakert, Martuni and Askeran districts.
On Wednesday, Human Rights Ombudsman of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan reported that seven civilians had been killed and 35 were injured.
Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry claimed that the 'civilian population and civilian facilities are not targeted' in the operation.
The Defence Ministry of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic said on Wednesday that authorities had decided to lay down arms for a ceasefire from 13:00 local time (09:00 GMT). Baku also announced the suspension of its 'anti-terrorist measures', which began on Tuesday.
Later, the Russian Defence Ministry said the sides had agreed on a complete cessation of hostilities in Karabakh, mediated by the Russian peacekeeping contingent.
On Tuesday, Azerbaijan accused Armenia of 'systematic shelling of Azerbaijani army positions' and announced 'anti-terrorist measures of a local nature' in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The republic's Defence Ministry said the operation was aimed at ensuring the safety of Azerbaijani servicemen and 'restoring the constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan' in the region.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that the only way to peace in the region was 'unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and dissolution of the so-called regime'.
For his part, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a meeting of his country's Security Council on Tuesday that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces 'began shelling the entire territory of Nagorno-Karabakh with missile and artillery fire, after which they began actions to break the line of contact'. He also claimed that there were no Armenian Armed Forces in the region.
In turn, the Armenian Foreign Ministry called on the UN Security Council and the Russian peacekeeping forces 'to take concrete and unambiguous steps to stop Azerbaijan's aggression'.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that Russia 'urges the parties to the conflict to stop the bloodshed, immediately cease military actions and return to the path of political and diplomatic settlement', adding that Moscow was maintaining contact with those involved 'including with the Azerbaijani side'.
On the same day, members of the European Parliament released a statement condemning Azerbaijan's actions and urged the EU Council to consider imposing sanctions against Baku.
In turn, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara supported Baku's operation in Karabakh and stood in favour of Armenians and Azerbaijanis living together in the region.
On November 9, 2020, following 44 days of armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a trilateral ceasefire declaration, with Moscow deploying peacekeepers.
The conflict re-emerged on the border on September 13, 2022, with both sides accusing each other of starting the escalation.
In May, Pashinyan stated that 'Armenia recognises Azerbaijan’s territory …< which> … includes Nagorno-Karabakh' while calling for the 'rights and safety' of the region's Armenian population to be discussed.
For his part, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that Baku had no territorial claims against Armenia and saw opportunities to sign a peace agreement, 'considering that Armenia officially recognised Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan'.
That month, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov also said that Russia 'continues to fulfil its functions as stipulated by the trilateral documents'.
Russian peacekeepers evacuate locals from 'most dangerous areas' of Karabakh - DefMin
Russian peacekeeping forces continued evacuating civilians from what the Defence Ministry described as the 'most dangerous areas' of Karabakh on Wednesday, following the launch of an Azerbaijani 'anti-terrorist' operation in the region.
Footage shows Russian servicemen helping women and children off military trucks and into safer territory, while medics treated the injured and stitched up wounds.
The Russian Defence Ministry stated that peacekeepers had evacuated about 2,000 people from the Mardakert, Martuni and Askeran districts.
On Wednesday, Human Rights Ombudsman of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan reported that seven civilians had been killed and 35 were injured.
Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry claimed that the 'civilian population and civilian facilities are not targeted' in the operation.
The Defence Ministry of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic said on Wednesday that authorities had decided to lay down arms for a ceasefire from 13:00 local time (09:00 GMT). Baku also announced the suspension of its 'anti-terrorist measures', which began on Tuesday.
Later, the Russian Defence Ministry said the sides had agreed on a complete cessation of hostilities in Karabakh, mediated by the Russian peacekeeping contingent.
On Tuesday, Azerbaijan accused Armenia of 'systematic shelling of Azerbaijani army positions' and announced 'anti-terrorist measures of a local nature' in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The republic's Defence Ministry said the operation was aimed at ensuring the safety of Azerbaijani servicemen and 'restoring the constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan' in the region.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that the only way to peace in the region was 'unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and dissolution of the so-called regime'.
For his part, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a meeting of his country's Security Council on Tuesday that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces 'began shelling the entire territory of Nagorno-Karabakh with missile and artillery fire, after which they began actions to break the line of contact'. He also claimed that there were no Armenian Armed Forces in the region.
In turn, the Armenian Foreign Ministry called on the UN Security Council and the Russian peacekeeping forces 'to take concrete and unambiguous steps to stop Azerbaijan's aggression'.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that Russia 'urges the parties to the conflict to stop the bloodshed, immediately cease military actions and return to the path of political and diplomatic settlement', adding that Moscow was maintaining contact with those involved 'including with the Azerbaijani side'.
On the same day, members of the European Parliament released a statement condemning Azerbaijan's actions and urged the EU Council to consider imposing sanctions against Baku.
In turn, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara supported Baku's operation in Karabakh and stood in favour of Armenians and Azerbaijanis living together in the region.
On November 9, 2020, following 44 days of armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a trilateral ceasefire declaration, with Moscow deploying peacekeepers.
The conflict re-emerged on the border on September 13, 2022, with both sides accusing each other of starting the escalation.
In May, Pashinyan stated that 'Armenia recognises Azerbaijan’s territory …< which> … includes Nagorno-Karabakh' while calling for the 'rights and safety' of the region's Armenian population to be discussed.
For his part, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that Baku had no territorial claims against Armenia and saw opportunities to sign a peace agreement, 'considering that Armenia officially recognised Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan'.
That month, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov also said that Russia 'continues to fulfil its functions as stipulated by the trilateral documents'.
Mandatory credit: Russian Defence Ministry
Russian peacekeeping forces continued evacuating civilians from what the Defence Ministry described as the 'most dangerous areas' of Karabakh on Wednesday, following the launch of an Azerbaijani 'anti-terrorist' operation in the region.
Footage shows Russian servicemen helping women and children off military trucks and into safer territory, while medics treated the injured and stitched up wounds.
The Russian Defence Ministry stated that peacekeepers had evacuated about 2,000 people from the Mardakert, Martuni and Askeran districts.
On Wednesday, Human Rights Ombudsman of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan reported that seven civilians had been killed and 35 were injured.
Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry claimed that the 'civilian population and civilian facilities are not targeted' in the operation.
The Defence Ministry of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic said on Wednesday that authorities had decided to lay down arms for a ceasefire from 13:00 local time (09:00 GMT). Baku also announced the suspension of its 'anti-terrorist measures', which began on Tuesday.
Later, the Russian Defence Ministry said the sides had agreed on a complete cessation of hostilities in Karabakh, mediated by the Russian peacekeeping contingent.
On Tuesday, Azerbaijan accused Armenia of 'systematic shelling of Azerbaijani army positions' and announced 'anti-terrorist measures of a local nature' in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The republic's Defence Ministry said the operation was aimed at ensuring the safety of Azerbaijani servicemen and 'restoring the constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan' in the region.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated that the only way to peace in the region was 'unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and dissolution of the so-called regime'.
For his part, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a meeting of his country's Security Council on Tuesday that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces 'began shelling the entire territory of Nagorno-Karabakh with missile and artillery fire, after which they began actions to break the line of contact'. He also claimed that there were no Armenian Armed Forces in the region.
In turn, the Armenian Foreign Ministry called on the UN Security Council and the Russian peacekeeping forces 'to take concrete and unambiguous steps to stop Azerbaijan's aggression'.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that Russia 'urges the parties to the conflict to stop the bloodshed, immediately cease military actions and return to the path of political and diplomatic settlement', adding that Moscow was maintaining contact with those involved 'including with the Azerbaijani side'.
On the same day, members of the European Parliament released a statement condemning Azerbaijan's actions and urged the EU Council to consider imposing sanctions against Baku.
In turn, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara supported Baku's operation in Karabakh and stood in favour of Armenians and Azerbaijanis living together in the region.
On November 9, 2020, following 44 days of armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a trilateral ceasefire declaration, with Moscow deploying peacekeepers.
The conflict re-emerged on the border on September 13, 2022, with both sides accusing each other of starting the escalation.
In May, Pashinyan stated that 'Armenia recognises Azerbaijan’s territory …< which> … includes Nagorno-Karabakh' while calling for the 'rights and safety' of the region's Armenian population to be discussed.
For his part, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that Baku had no territorial claims against Armenia and saw opportunities to sign a peace agreement, 'considering that Armenia officially recognised Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan'.
That month, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov also said that Russia 'continues to fulfil its functions as stipulated by the trilateral documents'.