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The Azerbaijani troops have taken control of Kubatlu, the Armenian Defense Ministry representative said on Monday.

“Unfortunately, yesterday, during the late evening fighting, the adversary managed to capture Kubatlu and advance in some directions. Tomorrow we will show those territories with the interactive map,” Artsrun Hovhannisyan told a daily briefing hosted by the Armenian Unified Infocenter.

According to him, early on Monday morning, as reported by the Defense Army, the Azerbaijani army, joined by terrorists, as well as military units of other countries, launched a large-scale offensive in several directions in the southeast part of Artsakh, simultaneously shelling and bombarding the cities of Artsakh.

"We have already official information about the civilian deaths and injuries. During the whole day, those bands failed to break through the frontline, although they seemingly had success in some places, but our troops managed to counterattack and restore the frontline," the representative added.

In Hovhannisyan’s words, the search and destruction operations of Azeri subversive groups in the forests of Hadrut’s north continued, as a result of which some enemy groups have even left their vehicles and fled.

"However, the fighting continues in several villages, including in Shekher, Jivanik, Azokh and other nearby villages. The search and destruction operations are going on. Yes, my dear people, the adversary has succeeded in some parts, yes, they have approached the gateway of Syunik, however the situation is not critical. I believe in the strength of Armenian soldiers, their thought, skills and endurance. If the Armenian soldiers retreated in some places, in many places they forced special units of the world's leading armies to escape. This is the case almost every day," he said.

Hovhannisyan noted that retreats are frequent, as human lives are more important, however they are not fatal.

"The situation is severe, the battles are heavy, but it is not critical. Today, very often an Armenian general is fighting with a machine gun in his hand, standing next to a soldier, a volunteer. I am sure we will win because we have no other option, this is a struggle for our existence," he said.