Deputy Defense Minister Arman Sargsyan has said the authorities will do everything to complete engineering work in the army by the end of the year.

"We have set up modular barracks on the border, which allow our soldiers to take turns, sleep and warm up. They have firewood, the state is doing everything to improve the situation," Sargsyan told reporters on Thursday, December 9.

Sargsyan, however, failed to answer to questions about the situation on the border, claiming that those are "sensitive issues" and official information should suffice at this stage.

On Thursday, the Azerbaijani military launched a fresh provocation on the border with Armenia, opening fire from various caliber firearms on positions stationed in the province of Gegharkunik. The Armenian side took retaliatory measures, although shooting continued as of 17:00 Thursday, December 9, the Defense Ministry reported.