A series of explosions rocked a major Russian chemical factory in Perm Krai on the evening of 2 October, with rising from the Uralchem Azot plant in the city of Berezniki. Despite dramatic images shared by locals, Russian officials dismissed the incident as a technical issue with refrigeration equipment and claimed operations were quickly restored.
Explosions hit nitrate factory tied to Russian war logistics
Ukrainian Telegram channels Exilenova+ and Supernova+ were among the first to report the blast, posting images of smoke and fire rising from the plant.
Exilenova+ noted the site is located roughly 1,600 kilometers from Ukraine’s border and questioned whether this might mark a record distance for a strike.
“Just now, the Azot branch of Uralchem in Berezniki, Perm Krai, was hit,” the channel posted at 20:40. “1,600 kilometers from the state border in a straight line. A record in range?”
Nevertheless, a Ukrainian attack remains currently unconfirmed. Given that Russian military-linked factories have been operating at full capacity throughout the invasion of Ukraine, the possibility of accidental explosions cannot be ruled out.
The Exilenova+ post also highlighted the military significance of the site:
Russia blames ammonia fridge, denies any threat
Russian news Telegram channel Astra reported that residents in Berezniki heard two powerful explosions at the plant on the evening of 2 October. The company confirmed the incident but released only a brief statement.
“At 20:45 on 2 October 2025, there was a short-term stoppage of the technological cycle at the Azot branch of Uralchem,” the official message read. “There were no injuries. There is no environmental threat. The plant is currently operating as normal.”
Astra cited local emergency services as saying the cause may have been a blast in a refrigeration unit in one of the workshops. No drone threat was declared in the city.
A Russian-language message on a local Telegram channel told residents not to panic and claimed an ammonia refrigerator exploded.
Update
Ukrainian military-linked Telegram channel Nikolaevsky Vanyok says the Unmanned Forces' 14th regiment was behind the attack on the Azot plant in Russia's Perm Krai.
Update
On 3 October, Russian news Telegram channel Astra reported that two pipelines were damaged at the Uralchem Azot chemical plant in Berezniki, Perm Krai, as a result of the previous evening’s drone attack.
According to Astra, “at least two Ukrainian drones struck the plant.” One damaged a pipeline containing acid residues, while the other hit a water pipeline.
