On the night of May 24, Russia experienced a series of bold drone attacks on a critical industrial facility—the “Azot” chemical plant in the city of Novomoskovsk, Tula region
This event quickly drew the attention of Russian mass media and sparked widespread discussions regarding the security of critical infrastructure objects and the potential consequences of such sabotage. According to reports circulated by agencies Astra and Meduza, the attack took place at night and was likely organized using drones—small unmanned aerial vehicles that are increasingly becoming popular tools for modern military and sabotage operations. Preliminary data indicates that the attack caused a large fire on the premises of the plant, which is one of Russia’s main producers of ammonia and nitrogen fertilizers. Footage obtained by the media shows smoke in the vicinity of Azot—images from the scene confirm that the fire may have affected critically important production facilities of the company. According to the governor of Tula region, during the inspection of the site, a damaged acid tank was found, raising concerns about potential spill risks and environmental hazards. At the same time, despite the damage, officials assure that air pollution levels are within permissible limits, and no serious environmental catastrophe has been reported so far. It is worth noting that overnight, Russian forces claimed to have destroyed nearly a hundred drones in response to the attacks, indicating the scale of the tactics employed by terrorist or sabotage groups. The Russian enterprise "Novomoskovsk Joint-Stock Company Azot" is one of the largest producers of nitrogen and mineral fertilizers in the country. Its products include ammonia, organic plastics, calcium chloride, caustic soda, concentrated nitric acid, and argon. This plant plays an important role in supplying the domestic Russian market and exporting chemical products. Overall, this night marked yet another manifestation of increasing tension in the region, particularly through the escalation of sabotage actions against Russian infrastructure. Experts and military specialists are discussing potential scenarios for the development of events and the possible impact of such attacks on regional security and global chemical supplies. In general, this event can be viewed as yet another indication of the growing complexity and danger of modern combat operations involving advanced technologies. At the same time, it underscores the need to strengthen security measures at critical facilities and to adapt strategies for protecting essential infrastructure objects worldwide, especially in the context of contemporary armed conflicts and hybrid operations.