Russian peacekeepers on Wednesday escorted buses carrying refugees returning to Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)] from Armenia, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

In one day, 1,479 people were transported—by buses—from Yerevan to Stepanakert; these buses were escorted by the Russian peacekeeping contingent and military police.

The safety of these buses traveling along the line of contact was ensured by the Russian servicemen.

More than 28,000 refugees have so far returned to their permanent residences in Nagorno-Karabakh.

On November 9, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a joint statement on a complete cessation of hostilities— which Azerbaijan had launched on September 27—in and around Artsakh. Accordingly, Russian peacekeepers are deployed in the region to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities. But this statement also stipulates the handover of part of Artsakh lands to Azerbaijan.