Azerbaijan shoots down Russian helicopter in Armenia, two deaths.

A Russian Mi-24 helicopter crashed in Armenia near the settlement of Yeraskh, resulting in the death of two servicemen.

Azerbaijan has admitted to shooting down Russian helicopter and has apologized for it.

Attempting to avoid a Russian intervention, Azerbaijan announced that it is ready to pay the necessary compensation to the families of those who lost their lives.

The helicopter was hit by fire from the ground by a Man-portable air-defense system (MANPAD), the Russian Defense Ministry reports.

“On November 9 at about 17.30 Moscow time, while escorting a convoy of the 102nd Russian military base through the territory of the Republic of Armenia in the airspace near the Armenian settlement of Yeraskh near the border of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (Republic of Azerbaijan), the Russian Mi-24 helicopter was subjected to fire from the ground from MANPADS,” the statement said.

“As a result of the missile hit, the helicopter lost control and fell in a mountainous area on the territory of Armenia,” the message said.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia reported that at 18:00 local time the regional crisis management center of Ararat received a signal that the helicopter had fallen into the gorge in the area leading from the village of Yeraskh to the village of Paruyr Sevak.

The site of the crash is also where the Russian military in Armenia have been based.

Intense fighting has been going on in the Artsakh since September 27 when the Turkish-sponsored invasion attempt by the Azerbaijani military and Syrian mercenaries began.

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces are shelling peaceful cities and villages of Artsakh, destroying residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.

Since the beginning of hostilities, 50 civilians of Artsakh have died, about 150 have been injured. Among the Armenian military, according to official figures, the losses are more than 1,240 people.