STEPANAKERT — Ceasefire violations around Nagorno-Karabakh dramatically intensified early on Saturday, with Karabakh forces repelling major Azerbaijani attacks at two sections of the frontline.
The NKR Defense Army said Azerbaijani forces used de-mining machines and other “special means” when they attempted to seize its positions at frontline sections east and southeast of Karabakh early in the morning. They were pushed back, suffering significant casualties in the process, the army said in a statement.
“Several [Azerbaijani] corpses are lying in no man’s land,” said the statement. “Nobody was killed or wounded on the Armenian side.”
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry admitted suffering casualties, claiming that Armenian troops tried to penetrate their positions. “The enemy attempted to capture beneficial positions” but was forced to retreat, the Azeri statement said.
The NKR Defense Ministry issued a statement stating that: “On February 25, as of 03:00 and 04:00, the Azerbaijani side conducted an attack attempt at two south-eastern (Martuni) and eastern (Akna) directions by using respective mine clearance equipment and special measures.
The NKR Defense Army forces prevented the advance of the Azerbaijani forces on time at both directions due to video devices and threw them back by causing losses. As a result of the countermeasures taken by the Defense Army, the Azerbaijani side suffered losses and has wounded. Several bodies are in the neutral zone. The Armenian side has no casualties and wounded.
At the same time, according to the information by the respective structures of the Defense Army, in the eastern direction movement of troops and military equipment of the Azerbaijani side is being realized.
The NKR Defense Army forces continue confidently controlling the situation along the entire length of the border and are ready to give respective response to any Azerbaijani provocation”.
Armenia’s Defense Ministry similarly accused Baku of seeking to “mislead its own people and the international community.”
“Azerbaijan’s military-political leadership has been escalating the situation along the Line of Contact and spreading disinformation for several days,” the ministry spokesman, Artsrun Hovannisian, wrote on his Facebook page.
“The Armenian side is observing the ceasefire regime and calling on the Azerbaijani side to refrain from steps aimed at further escalating the situation,” he added.
“The first ring indicates the release of Tropa mine-clearing line charge. The second ring shows the dust generated after its release, as well as the respective fire of the Armenian side. The third shot shows the escape of the Azerbaijani forces under the fire of the Armenian side. The scenes reflect the operations at directions of Aghdam, Akna. And in the end, the scene clearly shows the bodies of Azerbaijani soldiers left in Martuni”, Artsrun Hovannisian – Spokesman of the Defense Ministry said.
