Ukraine launches large-scale drone strike on Moscow oil refinery, halting flights

Ukrainian forces carried out a coordinated drone attack on the Moscow Oil Refinery, one of the city’s largest fuel processors, marking the second strike on the facility within a week. Russian authorities reported extensive fires at the plant, located about 15 km from the Kremlin, and thick smoke over the capital.

The raid also disrupted commercial flights at four Moscow airports, which were temporarily halted, and caused damage to residential buildings, a fitness centre, a mall and other private properties in the surrounding region. A woman was reported injured during the evacuations, according to regional governor Andrei Vorobyov.

Russia’s defence ministry said its air defenses shot down 555 Ukrainian drones across several regions, including nearly 200 near Moscow, a figure it said was about twice the number of drones launched by Russia against Ukraine that night.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the operation as a justified response to Russian attacks and said it was intended to pressure Moscow into diplomatic negotiations. He posted on social media, "It is time the war ended, and Russia must take the necessary steps in diplomacy."

The strike follows a series of Ukrainian drone operations targeting Russian oil infrastructure, which officials say aim to reduce revenue that funds the war effort. Western officials have noted that Ukraine’s use of high-tech drones is increasingly affecting Russian supply lines both within Russia and in occupied Ukrainian territories.

At the same time, Zelenskyy said he had held a coordination call with U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, seeking further support after pledges made at the G7 summit in France. French President Emmanuel Macron described the summit as "very important for Ukraine" and affirmed continued assistance.