The question of the influence of corrosion processes on ensuring the safe operation of materials and structural elements is considered on the basis of the formulation of the problem of the long-term destruction of a tensile rod that is in a creep condition. To solve the problem, a mechanical-mathematical model has been developed, including a modified diffusion equation, a kinetic equation for the accumulation of damage, and a relationship for the chemical interaction parameter. The parameters of this model are determined on the basis of the experimental dependence of the thickness of the corrosion film on time. A multi-stage process of destruction of corrosion layers under the action of increasing effective stress is considered.