A strategic chemical complex deeply tied to Russia’s military supply chain was struck by long-range drones from Friday night to Saturday morning, May 16, triggering a large-scale industrial fire in the city of Nevinnomyssk, Astra Telegram channel reported.
Air raid alerts were activated in the Stavropol region at 1:19 a.m. local time, followed by multiple loud explosions reported by nearby residents.
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Conflicting claims and geolocation realities
As footage of a towering inferno spread across social media channels, local authorities attempted to downplay the incident.
Stavropol Governor Vladimir Vladimirov stated on his Telegram channel that air defense units successfully countered the drone wave and insisted that “there are no casualties or damage on the ground.”
Independent Russian outlet Astra conducted an OSINT analysis of eyewitness footage filmed from a distance of approximately 2 km. The cross-referenced coordinates confirmed that the fire’s active epicenter was directly on the premises of the Nevinnomyssky Azot plant. Local residents noted that the city’s air defense systems failed to intercept the incoming drones, allowing them to hit their targets cleanly.
This attack marks at least the sixth time the facility has been hit since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of , with previous drone strikes recorded in June, July, August, and December of 2025, as well as January and March of 2026.
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