The Azerbaijani troops are only five kilometers away from the city of Shushi, Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) President Arayik Harutyunyan said Thursday, October 29.

"The main goal of the enemy is to take over Shushi. As they say, whoever rules Shushi, rules Artsakh. And I want us to realize this moment not only in words, but to directly participate in the defense of Shushi," Harutyunyan said in his address Thursday.

According to him, a breakthrough must be made on the front and the enemy must be punished at the gate of Shushi.

"Now they are threatening our homeland and existence not only along the entire frontline, but have invested serious military resources to attack Shushi, aiming to take possession of the proud Armenian fortress at all costs," the Karabakh leader said calling on everyone to join and defend Karabakh and the nation's dignity.

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and Syrian and Libyan mercenaries deployed by Ankara, started a war against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. Foreign and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages.