Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian President, commented on reports from Azerbaijan that the Russian authorities “were informed in advance of the start of a military operation” in Nagorno-Karabakh, Moskovsky Komsomolets reports.

“I cannot confirm that we were notified in advance,” he said.

Peskov also mentioned that, thanks to the efforts of the Russian side, the Lachin corridor was unblocked the day before: the first shipments of humanitarian cargo went in both directions yesterday. However, then hostilities began, and the delivery of goods was stopped.

Earlier NEWS.am reported that Azerbaijan՛s Armed Forces started to use artillery along the entire line of contact in Nagorno Karabakh as of 1 p.m. on September 19, attempting to penetrate into the depth of the defense line of the Defense Forces of Nagorno Karabakh.

Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno Karabakh, as well as other settlements are under heavy shelling now. The Human Rights Defender of Nagorno Karabakh, Gegham Stepanyan, reported that there are multiple casualties and injuries among civilians, including children․