In September 2020, under the cover of COVID, Azerbaijan launched an unprovoked war against the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh (also known as the Republic of Artsakh), which ethnic Armenians had inhabited for thousands of years.
The war was a significant escalation of an unresolved conflict over the region involving Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the self-declared Armenian breakaway state of Artsakh.
Turkey provided military support to Azerbaijan, while Armenia backed the Republic of Artsakh.
Numerous countries and the United Nations strongly condemned the fighting.
The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War lasted 44 days, ending with a partial victory for Azerbaijan.
Following the capture of Shusha, the second-largest city in Nagorno-Karabakh, a ceasefire agreement was signed, ending all hostilities in the area from 10 November 2020.
Approximately 2,000 Russian soldiers were deployed as peacekeeping forces along the Lachin corridor connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, with a mandate of at least five years.
