The Russian army on Saturday reported a violation of the ceasefire that ended the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in November in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"One case of ceasefire violation was reported on 11 December in the Hadrut district," said a statement from the Russian Defence Ministry, which has deployed peacekeepers to the region.

The Armenian army reported attacks from Azerbaijan on two villages that are under the control of Karabakh forces.

The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said "adequate countermeasures" had been taken against "provocations" from the other side but added that the truce was "currently being respected".

A spokesman for the Russian peacekeeping forces confirmed "exchanges of fire with automatic weapons", telling the Ria Novosti press agency that requests to respect the ceasefire had been sent to both parties.

Earlier in the day, Karabakh forces announced that three of their fighters had been wounded in an attack by Azerbaijani forces.

Azerbaijani troops attacked Armenian fighters on Friday evening and "three were wounded in the ensuing firefight", the territorial defence ministry said.

Russian peacekeeping military vehicles drive outside the town of Lachin southwest of Nagorno-Karabakh on November 29, 2020, after six weeks of fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan
Russian peacekeeping military vehicles drive outside the town of Lachin southwest of Nagorno-Karabakh on November 29, 2020, after six weeks of fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan AFP / Karen MINASYAN

It was Russia's first report of a violation since the peace deal was reached on November 10.

Also Saturday, the French and American heads of the so-called Minsk Group, which led talks on the Karabakh conflict for decades but failed to achieve a lasting agreement, met with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev in Baku.

The envoys, Stephane Visconti and Andrew Schofer, are expected in Yerevan on Sunday.

Six weeks of fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, which left thousands dead on both sides, ended last month in a rout for the Armenian military.

The Moscow-sponsored deal in November handed territorial gains to Azerbaijan and allowed for some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers to be deployed to the region.

On a visit to Azeri capital Baku on Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed what he dubbed his close ally's "glorious victory" in the conflict.

The Turkish leader, who attended celebrations marking the Azeri success, has overtly supported Azerbaijan, helping it to train and arm its military.

Erdogan warned, however, that "Azerbaijan's saving its lands from occupation does not mean that the struggle is over."

Russia