Russian Defense Ministry Reports Situation in Conflict Zone

The official representative of the Russian peacekeeping force has held a press briefing, presenting the situation in the conflict zone.

“In Nagorno-Karabakh, the Russian peacekeeping contingent continues to carry out its tasks. There have been no violations of the ceasefire regime. The Russian peacekeepers are ensuring the safe return of refugees to Nagorno-Karabakh. To date, 49,461 people have returned.

Russian engineering teams are clearing the area of unexploded ordnance. So far, 751 buildings have been inspected, including 25 socially significant facilities. More than 200 kilometers of roads have been cleared, and 529 hectares of land have been cleared; 23,406 explosive items have been discovered and neutralized.

In cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross and with the involvement of representatives from both the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides, the groups of the Humanitarian Response Center are conducting search and exchange operations for the bodies of fallen servicemen. An additional group has been organized for the search efforts for deceased individuals in the Karvachar region. A hotline has received 575 calls so far to gather information about local residents’ complaints and missing servicemen and political figures.

The issue of escorting vehicle columns continues in the peacekeeping operation zone. Over the past day, the Russian military police ensured the safe passage of 7 vehicle columns of the Azerbaijani armed forces, including 3 columns with construction materials through the Lachin corridor and from the Red Market to Shusha.

Together with the tasks of monitoring the ceasefire and military operations, the Russian peacekeeping contingent is carrying out engineering equipment of observation posts and improvements of deployment areas.

We are currently at the number 1 Russian military hospital located in Stepanakert. For the second day, vaccinations against COVID-19 using the Russian Sputnik vaccine are being administered to the servicemen of the Russian peacekeeping contingent. Today, 127 servicemen have been vaccinated. The full vaccinations for all servicemen of the Russian peacekeeping contingent will be completed by February 28, 2021,” stated Colonel Dmitry Perepelkin, deputy head of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh.