Drones strike Azot chemical plant in Russia's Tula region, triggering fire
Drones attacked the Azot chemical plant in Novomoskovsk, Russia's Tula region, in the early hours of October 28, causing a major fire and damage to industrial infrastructure. Tula Governor Dmitry Milyaev confirmed the attack and damage in the city's industrial zone but did not identify the facility struck, while Ukrainian media and OSINT analysis identified Azot as the target. Ukrainian military authorities had not confirmed the attack by publication time.
Key points
- Drones attacked the Azot chemical plant in Novomoskovsk, Tula region, overnight on October 28
- A major fire broke out at the plant following the attack
- OSINT analysis, satellite imagery and local footage point to the AM-70 ammonia production unit as the likely impact site
- Tula Governor Dmitry Milyaev confirmed damage to industrial infrastructure, apartment buildings and private homes; one person was injured
- Azot produces ammonia, ammonium nitrate, urea, methanol, nitric acid and other chemicals
- Azot is one of Russia's largest producers of ammonia and nitrogen fertilizers
- Ukrainian military authorities did not confirm the attack by publication time
Why it matters
The strike damaged industrial infrastructure and disrupted one of Russia's largest producers of ammonia and nitrogen fertilizers. Azot's reported supply links to the Sverdlov plant in Dzerzhinsk, where explosives and artillery ammunition are produced, connect the plant's chemical output to Russia's defense-industrial chain. The attack also followed earlier drone strikes on Azot in June.
What happened
In the early hours of October 28, drones attacked the Azot chemical plant in Novomoskovsk, Tula region, and a major fire broke out. OSINT analysis based on satellite imagery, published photographs and video indicates that the AM-70 ammonia production unit was most likely the point of impact, though this has not been officially confirmed. Tula Governor Dmitry Milyaev confirmed the drone attack on the region and reported damage to industrial infrastructure in Novomoskovsk, as well as to an apartment building and private homes from falling debris. One person was injured. Emergency services, laboratories and specialists were dispatched to the city, while Russian officials did not specify which industrial facility had been hit.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage focused on the strike on Azot, the resulting fire and the likely damage to the AM-70 ammonia production unit. Reporting highlighted the plant's scale and its reported supply-chain links to explosives and artillery-ammunition production, while noting that Ukrainian military authorities had not confirmed the attack by publication time.
Where reporting differs
Russian officials confirmed the drone attacks and damage in Novomoskovsk but did not identify which industrial facility was struck. Ukrainian media and OSINT analysis identified Azot as the target and the AM-70 ammonia production unit as the likely point of impact. Ukrainian military authorities did not confirm the attack on Azot by the time of publication.
Background
Azot is part of the EuroChem holding and produces ammonia, ammonium nitrate, urea, methanol, nitric acid and other chemical products. According to cited intelligence information, Azot supplied nitric acid to the Sverdlov plant in Dzerzhinsk, where explosives are produced; nitric and acetic acid supplied to that facility are used to make RDX and HMX for artillery ammunition. Reported 2022–2024 deliveries included almost 5,000 tonnes of nitric acid from Novomoskovsk Azot and at least 38,000 tonnes of acetic acid supplied together with the Nevinnomyssky nitrogen plant. A fire also occurred near the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Combine in Lipetsk after an attack by reactive weapons on the evening of October 27.