Ukrainian drone strike hits Moscow oil refinery, kills child

A Ukrainian drone raid on Thursday struck an oil refinery in the south-east of Moscow, producing a large plume of smoke that spread over the city skyline. The attack also damaged shopping centres and residential buildings, and a fire caused by the strike killed an eight-year-old girl, the regional governor said.

Local residents described the scene as unusual. One man, Slava, who lives opposite the refinery, said he heard explosions and saw thick smoke, adding, "I'm not totally surprised by what happened, but I didn't expect such a big attack." Another resident, Nadezhda, expressed shock at the ongoing conflict.

Russian authorities gave limited coverage to the incident. President Vladimir Putin did not comment, and state television mentioned the strike only briefly. Domestic newspapers framed the event as part of a broader narrative that Russian attacks on Ukraine are more effective than Ukrainian strikes on Russia. Komsomolskaya Pravda, Moskovsky Komsomolets and Rossiyskaya Gazeta all highlighted the supposed superiority of Russian operations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that footage of Russian strikes in Ukrainian cities would continue to be released, emphasizing the impact of those attacks.

Analysts note that long-range Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure are increasing pressure on the Russian economy, with reports of fuel shortages and rising prices in some regions. "It's our government that must decide what to do. All we can do is watch," a local observer said.