The Azot chemical plant in Tula Oblast completely halted operations on the day of the drone attack, May 24. A nitric acid leak occurred, and two tanks were damaged.
ASTRA investigated the aftermath of the drone strike on JSC Azot in Novomoskovsk, Tula Oblast, on the morning of May 24. Drones struck the facility, igniting a low-pressure natural gas pipeline in Workshop 4. Two 750-ton tanks of nitric acid were damaged. One of them leaked acid onto the ground. The plant completely suspended operations on the day of the attack. It is currently unknown whether operations have resumed.
The governor of Tula Oblast had previously reported that tanks containing acid were damaged in the drone strike. ASTRA’s analysis of the Azot plant layout confirmed reports from local residents that hits occurred in the “Ammonia-2,” “Urea-2,” and “Workshop 5A” sections. Nevertheless, Governor Dmitry Milyaev claimed there were no recorded exceedances of harmful substances in the air. Three plant workers were injured.
According to the company's website, “Novomoskovsk Joint-Stock Company Azot” is the largest domestic producer of ammonia and nitrogen fertilizers and one of the industry leaders in both types and volume of production. The plant produces mineral fertilizers, ammonia, organic plastics and resins, chlorine, caustic soda, calcium chloride, concentrated and high-purity nitric acid, argon, and methanol. Since 2002, JSC Azot has been part of the EuroChem holding.
ASTRA previously reported that on April 5, one ton of nitric acid was spilled during a drone strike on the Promsintez explosive materials plant in Chapayevsk, Samara Oblast. Local authorities concealed the incident.
Public sources confirm that nitric acid is actively used in the production of explosives — it is a key component in explosive chemistry. Even diluted nitric acid is hazardous to humans and the environment — it corrodes tissues, its vapors are toxic, and soil at the spill site is scorched, killing plants and microorganisms.
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