Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the Nevinnomyssk Azot chemical plant in Russia's Stavropol Krai on 14 January, after which videos and photos of a large fire at the site were published by the Telegram channel Supernova+. The facility, located near the city of Nevinnomyssk, is one of the largest chemical plants in southern Russia.
Ukraine's long-range strikes inside Russia are part of a broader effort to weaken Moscow's war effort by targeting facilities that sustain military production and logistics - including chemical plants, refineries, depots, and transport hubs - with the goal of reducing output, increasing repair costs, and forcing Russia to spread air defenses more thinly.
Fifth strike since June 2025
Nevinnomyssk Azot has been repeatedly targeted over the past seven months. The plant came under attack at least four times in 2025 - in June, July, August, and December.
After a June strike involving 13 Ukrainian drones, the facility temporarily halted operations, according to Russian media reports at the time.
Supplier of rocket engine components and explosives precursors
The plant supplies chemical components to NPO Iskra, a major Russian defense manufacturer that develops and produces solid-fuel rocket engines and related systems.
It also provides raw materials used to manufacture high explosives, including RDX and HMX, to the Sverdlov Plant in Dzerzhinsk, in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region. These explosive compounds are used in the production of artillery shells and missile warheads.
Annual output of one million tons of ammonia
Owned by EuroChem, the plant produces up to one million tons of ammonia and over 1.4 million tons of ammonium nitrate annually. It also manufactures melamine, methanol, acetic acid, and potassium nitrate - dual-use substances employed in military chemistry.
