On October 17, the Armenian Defense Ministry stated that the movement and deployment of additional Azerbaijani armed forces in that region, which has raised some tension, was the driving reason behind its decision to send more artillery units in the direction of Vardenis. 

Additionally, it stated that the actions taken by the Armenian side following the placement of more Azerbaijani artillery and anti-aircraft weapons in the region were solely defensive. "The actions of the Armenian side are not aimed at aggravating the situation. In case the Azerbaijani side withdraws its armaments from this direction, the Armenian side will also withdraw its additional weapons. The Armenian side is ready to negotiate on this issue," the Armenian Defense Ministry stated.

On the same day, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported that in the afternoon of October 16, it observed the concentration of additional personnel and four artillery units with military vehicles to their positions opposite the units of the Azerbaijani Army located in the direction of Dashkasan. "We inform you that the entire responsibility for the tension that may arise in the region lies with the military and political leadership of Armenia," the report added.

On the same day, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan tweeted, "Azerbaijan is continuously attributing its ceasefire violations to Armenia. This is a creation of a pretext for new military aggression against Armenia. A permanent international mechanism is needed to maintain the ceasefire regime and provide border security."