Russian peacekeepers have evacuated as many as 5,000 civilians from three districts in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.
"Since the start of active hostilities, Russian peacekeepers have evacuated the civilian population from the Mardakert, Martuni and Askeran districts. Some 5,000 people have been brought to the location of the peacekeeping contingent," the ministry said in a statement.
All evacuees are being provided with resting places and hot meals, and Russian military doctors are providing them with medical treatment, the statement said.
The ministry said Russian peacekeepers continue to fulfill their tasks in the region and maintain "continuous interaction with Baku, Yerevan and [the Karabakh city of] Stepanakert aimed at preventing bloodshed, ensuring security and compliance with the norms of humanitarian law with regard to civilians, as well as ensuring the safety of the Russian peacekeeping contingent."
The ministry recalled that an agreement was reached on Wednesday with the parties to the conflict, with the mediation of the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, to cease fire completely in the region. The situation is being monitored around the clock, the ministry added.