ArmInfo.Since the start of the peacekeeping operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, there have been no serious incidents, Russian Defense Minister Sergyi Shoigu said.
"Since November 10, in accordance with the trilateral agreements, the Russian military contingent has been successfully conducting a peacekeeping operation on the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. To date, not a single serious incident has occurred," Shoigu said at the department's annual board on December 21, Interfax reports.
According to him, as soon as possible, a group of Russian troops was deployed, which began to perform tasks at 23 observation posts. "Under the leadership of the Russian peacekeepers, an exchange of prisoners of war between the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides was carried out on the principle of" all for all. "The exchange of bodies of the dead was also organized," Shoigu said. "Peaceful citizens are returning to their areas of residence in complete safety and rebuilding their homes. Servicemen of the Peacekeeping Management Center help them. Since November 14, Russian peacekeepers have ensured the return of more than 42,000 refugees," the Russian Defense Minister said.
He noted that with the help of Russian peacekeepers, the safe movement of civil vehicles along the Lachin corridor is being maintained, and the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh is being demined - more than 6 thousand explosive devices have been neutralized. "To accommodate Russian peacekeepers in Stepanakert, two modern block-modular towns with a total capacity of 330 people have been established. We will deploy 32 townships by April 1 of next year. As a result, comfortable conditions of service and life will be created for the peacekeeping contingent," Shoigu added.
A Russian peacekeeping contingent with 1,960 servicemen is deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh. It is based on the units of the 15th separate motorized rifle brigade of the Central Military District. According to the maps of the RF Ministry of Defense, Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh are deployed in the "South" and "North" zones of responsibility. The first includes, in particular, the territories adjacent to the settlements of Stepanakert, Agdam and Lachin. The second is the northern parts of Tartar and Aghdam regions, the settlement of Martakert.