Ukrainian drones strike Moscow oil refinery in largest attack in years

Waves of Ukrainian drones targeted the Kapotnya oil refinery southeast of Moscow on Thursday, igniting flames and thick black smoke that spread over the capital. Russian officials reported that air-defence systems intercepted around 190 drones approaching the city, though several reached the refinery before being destroyed. The incident prompted the Russian Transportation Ministry to temporarily suspend operations at the city’s main airports for safety reasons.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the event as the most extensive drone attack on the Moscow region in two years, while state news agency TASS used similar language. The refinery had previously been struck by Ukrainian drones earlier in the week, part of an intensified campaign that Kyiv says aims to disrupt Russia’s energy infrastructure and pressure its war effort.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video of the blaze on social media, calling the strike a “fully justified response” to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and noting the “precision and effectiveness” of Ukraine’s mid-range strikes. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote that the attacks were a consequence of Russia’s “war of aggression” against Ukraine.

In Moscow, some residents appeared unfazed by the smoke, while others expressed anxiety about the increased frequency of attacks. The Russian aviation authority had recently imposed restrictions on flights by light private aircraft and drones in the capital and surrounding regions, indicating heightened security measures.

The drone strikes come amid broader diplomatic developments, including recent communications between President Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump, and French President Emmanuel Macron, which Trump suggested could lead to a shift in international engagement on the conflict.