The Azerbaijani military has violated the November 2020 ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, launching airstrikes against the forces of the breakaway region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. The region, which is currently patrolled by Russian peacekeepers, is internationally recognized as a part of Azerbaijan, yet it is predominantly populated by ethnic Armenians.
Over the past two days, Azerbaijani troops have “entered the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping force in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and set up an observation post,” the ministry said.
“Four strikes have been conducted by a Bayraktar TB-2 unmanned drone on units of the armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh near the settlement of Furukh,” it added.
The peacekeeping force is currently trying to ease tensions, the MoD said, urging all parties in the region to show restraint. “The command of the Russian peacekeeping force is taking measures to resolve the situation and return the troops to their original position. A request was sent to the Azerbaijani side to withdraw its troops,” it said.