CSTO mission not arrived in Armenia yet, Kremlin says

The mission of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) headed by Secretary General Stanislav Zas has not arrived in Armenia yet, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday, according to TASS.

"No, [the CSTO mission] has not arrived yet, as far as I know," the spokesman said. "The decision was made only late last night. It [the mission] still needs to be formed, and it needs to fly, to arrive."

On Tuesday, the CSTO Council decided at an extraordinary session held in a videoconference format to send a mission to Armenia to assess the situation due to escalation of tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The mission will include CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas, Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov and representatives of member countries.

In addition, it was decided to create a working group "consisting of the secretarial staff and members of the military of the joint staff for constant monitoring of the situation in the CSTO responsibility zone."

Azerbaijani forces launched a massive attack against Armenia just after midnight on Tuesday, using combat drones, artillery and large-caliber firearms. At least 49 Armenian troops were killed in nighttime Azerbaijani attacks.

Towns and villages in Armenia’s Gegharkunik, Syunik and Vayots Dzor Provinces came under Azerbaijani shelling. An Armenian ambulance was reportedly hit on the Kapan-Chakaten highway.

Three civilians were also injured in the Azerbaijani shelling, the Health Ministry reports, adding one of them is in severe condition.