Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has confirmed that Russia is withdrawing its "peacekeeping forces" from the territory of Karabakh, which is now under Azerbaijan's control.

Peskov was asked by Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency Interfax to comment on Azerbaijani media reports that the withdrawal of the Russian forces had begun.

"Yes, it is true," Peskov said.

The Interfax news agency provided no other details regarding the withdrawal of Russian troops.

Azerbaijani media have recently reported that the withdrawal of so-called Russian "peacekeepers" from the territory of the former unrecognised republic of Nagorno-Karabakh commenced.

Media reports say this process will be completed in a few days, and thus Azerbaijan will regain full sovereign "control over Karabakh and all its lands".

Russian "peacekeeping" forces were temporarily deployed in Karabakh following a trilateral statement signed on 10 November 2020 between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia.

Following Baku's lightning-fast one-day military operation launched on 19 September 2023, Azerbaijan effectively regained control of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh Republic officially ceased to exist on 1 January 2024.