Ukrainian drones strike Moscow refinery in major attack

Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion, striking a major oil refinery in the Russian capital for the second time this week and sending thick black smoke over the city Thursday morning.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defenses shot down 190 drones approaching the capital overnight, but several reached the Moscow oil refinery in Kapotnya, in the southeast of the city. Russia’s state news agency Tass described it as “the most massive drone attack on the Moscow region in two years.”

The BBC reported that 17 people were wounded in the Moscow region, citing regional governor Andrei Vorobyov. A nearby shopping center was also damaged or set ablaze, and several residential high-rise buildings were evacuated. Al Jazeera reported, citing local officials, that a high-rise residential building, an industrial facility and several private homes in the surrounding Moscow region were damaged.

Videos posted on social media showed drones flying through daylight skies and explosions over industrial areas, despite local bans on publishing images of drone strike aftermath. NBC News said it geolocated a video showing a drone flying into smoke over the Kapotnya refinery as air defense rockets were fired, before the drone crashed at the site and produced a fireball. Other footage showed thick columns of smoke rising above Moscow.

The Kapotnya refinery has now been hit three times in a month and twice this week, according to the BBC. Al Jazeera, citing Reuters, reported that a Tuesday drone attack had halted operations at the refinery. Reporting from Kazan, Al Jazeera’s Yulia Shapovalova described the site as “a strategically important enterprise” that provides Moscow’s population with about 40 percent of its petrol and other oil products.

The attack disrupted air travel across the Russian capital. Moscow’s four airports were temporarily shut, and the BBC reported that more than 500 flights were canceled or delayed. Al Jazeera reported that Sheremetyevo, Moscow’s busiest airport, suspended flights and evacuated people, with some seeking shelter in a car park.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said, according to Al Jazeera, that air defenses shot down 555 Ukrainian drones over several regions overnight. The BBC reported that Russia’s Defense Ministry said almost 1,000 drones and four Ukrainian cruise missiles were intercepted and destroyed across the country in 24 hours. An oil depot was struck in the southern Rostov region, where one person was killed, the BBC reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the strikes as Kyiv’s “long-range sanctions” against Russia and said they were a response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, including a recent strike on Kyiv that damaged a historic monastery and drew condemnation from European leaders. Russia denied striking the monastery, according to Al Jazeera.

“This is a fully justified response to Russian attacks on our cities and communities, and another important result of our warriors’ work against facilities that sustain Russia’s war machine,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “It’s time to end this war, and Russia must take the necessary steps in diplomacy,” he added, according to the BBC. “We don’t want this war and have never wanted it. But if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn too.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also addressed Moscow residents on X. “One of the most popular questions asked by Muscovites this morning is ‘What is going on?’” he wrote. “I can answer. Your country started a war of aggression against ours. For years, it has been killing our people. Now that you know what’s going on, ask Putin when he is planning to end it.”

Russia also attacked Ukraine overnight. Al Jazeera reported that Kyiv came under a second Russian air attack this week, with officials warning of ballistic missiles. Ukrainian authorities said at least 239 drones and seven ballistic missiles were launched at Ukraine overnight, with most intercepted, and that one person was killed in Sumy.

The strikes came as Zelenskyy sought more support from the United States and Europe. He said he had spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and other Group of Seven leaders on efforts to end the war. G7 leaders pledged to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and increase pressure on Moscow’s war economy, including through tighter sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas sectors. Trump told reporters he was “gonna do whatever I can” to end the war.