Ukrainian drones have hit the Azot chemical plant in the Russian town of Novomoskovsk, located in the Tula region. The attack, which took place on the morning of 24 May, sparked a large fire and sent plumes of smoke into the air, as seen in videos posted by locals and shared through the Telegram channel Exilenova+.
The Azot facility is one of the largest chemical plants in the Russian Federation and is known for its production of nitrogen-based fertilisers such as ammonia and urea. Critically, the plant also has the capacity to produce chemical ingredients used in explosive manufacturing, making it a valuable target in Ukraine’s effort to disrupt Russia’s weapons supply chain.
Local residents reported the fire began shortly after the strike. Russia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that only one drone had been downed in the Tula region. However, it also claimed that during the night and morning of 24 May, Russian air defences shot down a total of 94 drones across various regions.
Unverified figures shared by Russian officials suggest that 64 drones were intercepted over Belgorod, 24 over Bryansk, two over Kursk, two over Lipetsk, one over Voronezh, and one in Tula. Despite these claims, the successful strike on Azot adds to a growing list of deep strikes by Ukrainian drones that continue to challenge the Russian dictator’s narrative of impenetrable air defences.
Among the drones being used in these long distance operations are models such as the Liutyi, UJ-22 Airborne, Bobber, and a newly developed jet powered UAV. Ukraine has also recently revealed the Batyar, a new strike drone capable of flying over 800 kilometres, underlining its expanding capacity to hit strategic sites across Russia.
These long range attacks, some reaching more than 1,000 kilometres into Russian territory, are demonstrating Ukraine’s determination to dismantle Russian military infrastructure and arms production facilities at their source. The Azot chemical plant, with its links to explosive manufacturing, is the latest in a series of targets chosen for their strategic impact.
