On August 17, the Russian Embassy in Armenia denied Russian participation in the massive explosion that tore through Yerevan's Surmalu retail district and filed a complaint to the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

In a Facebook post, the embassy expressed displeasure at the cynical sensationalism circulating in the local information space carrying blasphemous and false claims against Russia for involvement in the explosion. "We consider this a clear provocation by the political forces behind such insinuations, intended to undermine Russian-Armenian allied relations. We anticipate action from Armenia's government, including the requisite public statements, to halt such hostile manifestations," the statement stated. "Claims that Russia was somehow connected to the Surmalu explosion, which happened at a facility housing pyrotechnics, have gained traction on Armenian social media platforms this week. Although terrorism has been ruled out as the cause of the explosion, it is still unknown what set off the fireworks," it added.

The Russian embassy posted on Facebook a link to an earlier statement noting that from the first minutes following the explosion, workers and volunteers working at Surmalu received rescue equipment and apparatus from the Russian-Armenian Humanitarian Response Center.

An explosion followed by a fire broke out in the Surmalu Shopping Center in Yerevan on August 14 afternoon. According to information, the explosion took place in the pyrotechnic warehouse. The fire that started after that was very difficult to extinguish, and a part of the building collapsed.

"As a result of the explosion, the total number of dead has reached 16", the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia announced on August 16. After first aid, 61 victims were taken to hospitals, seven of whom are still being treated in the hospital. According to the information provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia, a criminal case has been opened with two articles related to the explosion. "The causes of the explosion have not yet been determined. During the investigation, all assumptions will be considered," Gor Abrahamyan, an adviser to the Prosecutor General of Armenia, told.

Two-day mourning from August 17 to 18 was announced for those who died in the explosion at the Surmalu Trade Center in Yerevan.