On the night of April 1-2, Azerbaijani armed forces initiated overt offensive operations in the southern, southeastern and northeastern directions of the line of contact with Nagorno Karabakh, using artillery, armored fighting vehicles and air force equipment among other weapons.

Aside from the battles on the frontline, the rival has also carried out artillery strikes on civilian settlements and places of permanent deployment of several military units.

According to the spokesperson for the Armenian Defense Ministry Artsrun Hovhannisyan, active military operations continue, the Armenian army having taken retaliatory measures and making counterattacks in some areas. Casualties were registered on both sides, Hovhannisyan said, but the rival has suffered major equipment and manpower losses.

“In combat actions, the initiative is in our hands,” Hovhannisyan said in a statement.

According to the Karabakh Defense Army, the Armenian air defense units have destroyed an Azerbaijani helicopter that was storming towards the Armenian positions.

At the moment, heated clashes continue along the Karabakh-Azerbaijan contact line.

Accepting the rival’s challenge, the Karabakh frontline units confidently conduct defensive battles.