Novoselytsya residents told to shelter underground after ammonia leak

KYIV — Residents of the northern Ukrainian town of Novoselytsya should seek shelter after an ammonia leak at a nearby chemical factory, an official says, as intense fighting with Russian forces in the area continues.

Sumy regional governor Dmytro Zhyvytsky says there had been an “ammonia leakage” at the Sumykhimprom facility, affecting an area within 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) of the plant, which produces fertilizers.

The extent and cause of the incident is not immediately clear, but residents are told to seek refuge in basements or on lower levels of buildings to avoid exposure.

“Ammonia is lighter than air, therefore shelters, basements and lower floors should be used for protection,” Zhyvytsky says in a Telegram message.

He adds that emergency crews were at the scene and prevailing winds meant the nearby city of Sumy — with a pre-war population of around 250,000 — was not under immediate threat.

According to Sumykhimprom’s website the facility produces a range of chemical fertilizers.