Explosions were heard at the plant and technological processes were stopped, according to Astra, which cited employees of the enterprise. The outlet Perm 36.6 reported damaged tanks.
Air raid sirens were activated in Berezniki and Solikamsk. According to Perm 36.6, classes were canceled at schools and admissions halted at hospitals in Berezniki. Perm universities and colleges — Perm State National Research University, Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Oniks, and the Perm Institute of Railway Transport of UrGUPS — also canceled classes and evacuated students.
At Bolshoye Savino Airport, which serves Perm, restrictions on the arrival and departure of aircraft have been in effect since 5 a.m.
Azot is one of Russia's largest chemical enterprises. The plant produces ammonia, nitric acid, ammonium and potassium nitrate, urea, and nitrite-nitrate salts. It is the country's only producer of sodium nitrate and crystalline sodium nitrite. Nitric acid is used in the manufacture of explosives.
The Moscow Times noted that Ukrainian drones had previously attacked Berezniki in October last year. At that time, Governor Dmitry Makhonin reported a "short-term halt in the technological cycle," and local residents described several powerful explosions.
Sources differ: Ukrainian monitoring channels and Astra report a drone attack that damaged the enterprise and halted production; official authorities of the Perm region and the Russian Ministry of Defense have made no public comment, and there is no independent confirmation of the consequences.