‘Staggering level of deaths’: Russia readies for war in bloody Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

A regional conflict is “spiralling out of control” with Russia making its first steps to become involved, a move that it’s feared could lead to more bloodshed.

Azerbaijan and Armenia accused each other of killing civilians by shelling cities in and around Nagorno-Karabakh on Wednesday, in an escalation of a month-long conflict over the mountain enclave that has defied three ceasefires.

Armed conflict broke out in late September after Azerbaijan, widely thought to be backed with weapons and manpower from Turkey, began shelling the disputed territory in an effort to recapture it.

RELATED: Armenia and Azerbaijan clash over disputed region.

An Armenian soldier fires artillery on the front line during the ongoing fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

RELATED: Iran’s dark warning over Armenia, Azerbaijan conflict.

On Wednesday, Azerbaijan accused Armenia of killing 21 people and wounding dozens in a missile strike near the frontier, the deadliest reported attack on civilians in a month of fighting over the disputed region.

Yerevan, in turn, accused Azerbaijani forces of deadly new strikes on civilian areas of the disputed region, as both sides claim the other is targeting civilians after weeks of fierce frontline clashes, reported news agency AFP.

“These latest exchanges signal that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict risks spiralling out of control,” said the ICRC’s regional director Martin Schüepp.

There are growing fears about what might happen if a thin strip of land known as the Lachin corridor is over run by Azerbaijan forces.

It’s been reported Azerbaijan forces are closing in on the strip.

The strategic Lachin corridor between Armenia and the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where Russia has now set up a small base.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had said its defence agreement with Armenia would only come into effect if that country’s territory was threatened.

It’s only a few tents and a Russian flag but it’s a powerful sign to approaching Azerbaijan forces not to cut off the pass, reported central Asian news service Eurasianet.

A photo by TASS photographer Sergei Bobylev shows a Russian field camp set up near Tegh, close to the Lachin pass which connects Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia?

“Turkey has traditionally been a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan (while) Russia considers Armenia a strategic ally, but also considers Azerbaijan a strategic partner

Armenia and Azerbaijan may be relatively small nations, but they each have much larger friends, and foes, with lots of firepower at their disposal