File image.
On March 24, units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces crossed the ceasefire line in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and seized the village of Farukh after forcing Armenian forces to retreat.
Following the Azerbaijani move, which represents a violation of the 2020 ceasefire agreement, Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh were reportedly placed on high-alert.
The ceasefire agreement put an end to a large-scale Azerbaijani offensive on Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh. Under the Russian-brokered agreement, hundreds of Russian troops were deployed in the region on a peacekeeping mission.
In an effort to contain the situation, Russian peacekeepers were sent to Farukh to discuss the violation with Azerbaijani forces.
Video of Azerbaijani army entering the village of #Farukh.#Azerbaijan #Armenia pic.twitter.com/kXjYjTHxgr
— newsblunt (@newsbluntmedia) March 25, 2022
On the same day, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu phoned his Armenian counterpart Suren Papikian to ease tension in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Ministry of Defense of Russia said in a statement that the two men “discussed the current situation in the region and the areas where Russian peacekeeping forces in Nagorno-Karabakh are carrying out their tasks”.
According to preliminary reports, Azerbaijani forces decided moved into Farukh because Russia recently withdraw some of its peacekeepers from Nagorno-Karabakh and sent them to Ukraine, where it is currently conducting a special military operation. These reports are yet to be verified.
As of March 25, Azerbaijani forces are still in Farukh. The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh could escalate even further. There are already reports of Azerbaijani drone strikes on Armenian forces near the village.
