Dozens of Ukrainian Drones Hit Moscow, Damaging Major Oil Refinery
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported dozens of Ukrainian drones downed overnight, with one damaging a major oil refinery and disrupting flights.
Dozens of Ukrainian long-range drones attacked Moscow overnight into Tuesday morning, damaging a major oil refinery and disrupting flights at the capital's international airports, according to city Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. This marks the ninth consecutive day of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow, signaling an escalation in Ukraine's long-range strike campaign into Russia.
One of the drones impacted a facility at the Moscow Refinery, located in the Kapotnya District, southeast of the city. While no casualties were reported, purported videos showed fire and a large plume of black smoke rising from the Gazprom-owned plant. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene.
Mayor Sobyanin stated on Telegram that the number of drones downed on Tuesday was the largest recorded since May 17. This year, he has reported intercepting 1,134 Ukrainian drones en route to the capital, a significant increase from the 734 drones intercepted throughout all of 2025.
The latest strikes occurred a day after a substantial Russian attack on Kyiv, which resulted in at least five deaths and damage to a historic cathedral. Ukrainian officials have characterized these cross-border strikes as a response to ongoing Russian aggression.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared a video of the burning refinery, attributing the damage to Ukrainian long-range strikes and asserting that such actions are necessary to compel Russia to end the war. He referred to Ukrainian long-range weapons as a key component in achieving this coercion.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Counter-Disinformation Center, highlighted the significance of the Moscow Refinery, noting its annual refining capacity of approximately 11 million tons of oil. He stated that the plant supplies about 40% of Moscow's gasoline requirements.
This sustained drone activity represents a significant escalation in the conflict, with Ukraine increasingly targeting Russian territory far from the front lines. The attacks also come amid a backdrop of retaliatory actions, with Russia launching significant strikes against Ukrainian cities.
Further details on the full extent of the damage to the refinery and the operational impact on Moscow's airports are still emerging. The ongoing drone warfare underscores the expanding reach of the conflict and the challenges faced by air defense systems in both nations.
This article was written by AI based on publicly available news reporting. Original reporting by the linked source.
