Sumykhimprom ammonia leak
Part of the battle of Sumy during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
LocationSumykhimprom factory
Sumy Oblast, Ukraine
Coordinates50°52′34″N 34°52′58″E / 50.876234°N 34.882685°E / 50.876234; 34.882685
Date21 March 2022 (2022-03-21)
~04:30 (UTC+3)
TargetAmmonia production
Attack type
Airstrike
Perpetrators Russian Armed Forces (denied by Russia)

On 21 March 2022 during the battle of Sumy, a Russian airstrike damaged one of the ammonia tanks at the Sumykhimprom plant, contaminating land within a 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) radius including the villages of Novoselytsya and Verkhnya Syrovatka.[1][2] Due to the direction of the wind, the city of Sumy was largely unaffected despite its proximity to the leak.[3]

Background

Two days prior to the leak Mikhail Mizintsev, the Chief of Russia's National Defense Management Center claimed that Ukrainian nationalists were plotting a false flag chemical attack in Sumy. Mizintsev alleged on 19 March that mines had been placed in chemical storage facilities at the plant to poison residents in case of Russian troops advancement into the city. He also alleged that a secondary school was similarly sabotaged in Kotlyarovo, Mykolaiv Oblast.[4]

Leak

The leak was first reported at about 4:30 am local time on 21 March 2022 at the Sumykhimprom chemical plant, located in the suburbs of Sumy.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Guardian staff and AFP (21 March 2022). "Ukrainian town told to shelter after shelling causes ammonia leak at chemical factory". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  2. ↑ "The affected area is estimated to be around 2.5 km from the site, including the villages of Novoselytsya and Verkhnya Syrovatka. There's no threat to Sumy residents". Twitter. The Kyiv Independent. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  3. ↑ "Live updates: Ammonia leak contaminates area in east Ukraine". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  4. 1 2 Nava, Victor I. (21 March 2022). "Ammonia leak reported at Ukraine chemical plant after Russian airstrike". Colorado Springs Gazette. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
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