Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has expressed readiness to make every effort to end renewed hostilities on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, return the prisoners of war and resolve the situation, according to a statement from the Armenian Defense Ministry.

Shoigu made the remarks in a phone call with Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan on Tuesday, November 16, the day Azerbaijan launched a new provocation in the province of Syunik, shelling the Armenian positions and using artillery and armored vehicles. Authorities have already confirmed deaths and injuries among the Armenian army personnel. Although the Defense Ministry has not provided a specific number of deaths and injuries, it has revealed that the Armenian side has also lost two positions in Syunik.

Papikyan stressed that the incursion of the Azerbaijani military into the sovereign territory of Armenia is a gross violation of the ceasefire statement of November 9, 2020 and endangers the entire negotiation process.