Russian airstrikes ravage avdia coking plant, raising environmental concerns

Today, the coking plant in Avdia fell victim to two devastating airstrikes launched by Russian forces. Musa Magomedov, who once served as the company's general director, revealed that the invaders are fabricating a false narrative, claiming they targeted nonexistent ammunition depots within the facility. The Avdia coking plant is an integral part of the Metinvest group, with its primary shareholder being Rinat Akhmetov.

Attacks on the Avdia coking plant may lead to an ecological disaster

The Russian occupiers mercilessly unleashed a pair of air bombs upon the Avdia coking plant, as disclosed by Musa Magomedov, a former leader of the establishment. Tragically, Putin's troops persist in their relentless assault on the industrial heart of Donbas.

In his grim assessment, Magomedov stated “These monsters hit AKHZ with air bombs, and the trap shop washer is ablaze”.

He went on to emphasize that the invaders are poised to concoct a deceitful narrative, alleging the bombing of nonexistent ammunition depots on the company's premises. Vitaly Barabash, the head of the military administration in Avdia, confirmed the attack by the occupiers, involving the launch of two rockets around 1:10 p.m.

Barabash further explained, "One of the rockets struck a naphthalene warehouse, and the remnants are currently burning. Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties."

The airstrikes on the Avdia coking plant raise grave concerns about the potential for an ecological catastrophe. The Avdia coking plant, being a part of the Metinvest group, houses a significant chemical infrastructure. This facility contains numerous hazardous materials that demand meticulous handling. Any harm inflicted on these facilities could result in environmental contamination, as well as the poisoning and loss of life for nearby residents.

Coke oven gas, though essential to the coke production process, presents inherent dangers. Under normal circumstances and with stable production, harmful substance concentrations are effectively managed through purification and utilization processes. However, if a missile were to strike one of Ukraine's coking plants, the critical purification installations would be compromised, allowing unpurified coke oven gas to escape into the atmosphere above cities and spread to nearby communities.

This regrettable incident isn't the first time that the occupiers have targeted Koksokhim. In fact, the Russians have been in pursuit of coke resources as early as July of this year. Prior to this, in February 2023, the facility experienced raids by Russian forces. Last year, the company suffered multiple attacks, with one of the most devastating occurring in May, resulting in the tragic loss of 10 lives and injuries to 15 others.