Drones Hit Key Russian Explosives Supplier Linked to Rocket Engine Manufacturing

Drones struck the Nevinnomysskiy Azot chemical plant, a facility tied to Russia’s production chain for explosive materials and solid rocket fuel, according to the OSINT community Exilenova+ on December 4.

The plant sits near the city of Nevinnomyssk in the Stavropol region and is considered one of the largest chemical enterprises in southern Russia. Local residents reported hearing a series of loud explosions in the area during the night.

Regional governor Vladimir Vladimirov confirmed the drone attack on Nevinnomyssk, stating there were allegedly “no casualties and no destruction” as a result of the strike.

Images shared online appear to show a large fire near the plant.

This is not the first time drones have targeted the facility. The plant was previously hit in June, July, and August. Following the June strike, operations at the plant were temporarily suspended.

Nevinnomysskiy Azot is part of the EuroChem holding and is one of Russia’s largest producers of nitrogen fertilizers and ammonia, with a yearly capacity exceeding 1 million tons of ammonia and 1.4 million tons of ammonium nitrate.

The plant serves as a consistent supplier of chemical components for NPO Iskra, a major developer and manufacturer of solid-fuel rocket engines and elements for missile systems.

It also provides raw materials used to produce powerful explosives, including RDX and HMX, at the Sverdlov plant in Dzerzhinsk, which in turn are used to manufacture artillery shells and warheads for missiles.

Earlier, fguel depots in Russia’s Voronezh and Tambov regions were targeted by overnight drone strikes, triggering fires and reports of damage across multiple sites.

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