The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to immediately cease fire.
The Foreign Ministry's report indicates that the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone has sharply escalated, intense shelling is taking place on both sides, and there are data on losses.
"We call on the parties to immediately cease fire and start negotiations in order to stabilize the situation," the statement reads.
Earlier on Sunday, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that the Armenian armed forces fired at settlements on the contact line in Karabakh; according to these data, there are civilian deaths. According to the statement of the Armenian Defense Ministry, Karabakh "was subjected to air and missile attacks", the Armenian side reported that it shot down two helicopters and three drones of Azerbaijan.
The press secretary of the President of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Vahram Poghosyan reported that peaceful settlements in Karabakh, including the capital Stepanakert, were shelled, and he called on the population to take shelter. Later, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said that the Azerbaijani armed forces launched a counter-offensive operation along the entire contact line in Karabakh. The Armenian Defense Ministry said that Azerbaijan lost three tanks, and there are presumably "losses in manpower". The Azerbaijani military announced the destruction of 12 anti-aircraft complexes of the Armenian air force.
The conflict in Karabakh began in February 1988, when the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous region announced its secession from the Azerbaijan SSR. During the armed conflict in 1992-1994, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding areas. Since 1992, negotiations on a peaceful settlement of the conflict have been held within the framework of the OSCE Minsk group, led by three co - chairs-Russia, the United States and France. Azerbaijan insists on preserving its territorial integrity, while Armenia defends the interests of the unrecognized Republic, since the Nagorno-Karabakh is not a party to the negotiations.
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Photo: MFA
Based on materials RIA Novosti