A fire likely broke out at the Nevinnomyssk Azot plant in Russia's southern Stavropol Krai following a drone strike, Russian independent media outlet Astra reported on May 16, The Kyiv Independent reports.
The plant is one of Russia's largest producers of mineral fertilizers and chemicals used in manufacturing explosives. Andrii Kovalenko, an official at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, earlier described the facility as "a critical component" of Russia's defense-industrial complex.
The reported strike comes as Ukraine continues its campaign of long-range drone attacks targeting Russian military and industrial infrastructure supporting Moscow's war effort.
Nevinnomyssk Azot produces up to 1 million tons of ammonia and more than 1 million tons of ammonium nitrate annually, materials used in the production of explosives and artillery shells.
Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova Plus published footage it said showed a blaze at the facility, adding that the local residents reported hearing multiple explosions overnight.
Astra Telegram channel also reported that a fire broke out at the plant, citing eyewitness accounts and its analysis of photos and videos from the scene.
The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the reports. Ukraine's General Staff has not officially commented on the alleged attack.
The facility is located about 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Ukrainian border, placing it within the range of Ukraine's long-distance drones.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that air defense and electronic warfare units intercepted 138 Ukrainian drones overnight across 15 Russian regions. Stavropol Krai was not mentioned in the statement.
Stavropol Krai Governor Vladimir Vladimirov confirmed that the region had come under a drone attack, claiming Russian air defense systems had "repelled an attack by enemy drones."
Nevinnomyssk Azot has been repeatedly targeted during the full-scale war, with previous strikes reported in March and January 2026, as well as multiple times in 2025.
Ukraine has increasingly relied on domestically produced drones to strike targets deep inside Russia, particularly facilities tied to oil refining, logistics, and defense production.
