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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Wednesday for an "immediate end to the fighting" in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).

"The Secretary-General is extremely concerned over the use of military force in the region and reports of casualties, including among the civilian population. He regrets that these worrying developments follow the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance to the local population on 18 September," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

"The Secretary-General calls in the strongest terms for an immediate end to the fighting, de-escalation, and stricter observance of the 2020 ceasefire and principles of international humanitarian law. He remains concerned about the humanitarian situation on the ground and reiterates his call for urgent steps to facilitate full-fledged access for humanitarian actors to people in need. He calls on the parties to refocus on efforts to help build confidence and secure long-term peace in the region," he added.

Azerbaijan launched a large-scale offensive against Artsakh early on Tuesday afternoon, using artillery, rocket systems, combat UAVs and warplanes.