Zelensky Calls Moscow Refinery Attack Justified Response to Russian Strikes
Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Moscow in at least two years, striking the Moscow Oil Refinery and causing fires while Russian air defenses intercepted hundreds of drones overnight in response to Russia strikes. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that several drones reached the Moscow Oil Refinery, one of Russia's largest, causing fires reported by Russian media, with the facility hit for the second time this week [1]. Russian authorities said air defenses destroyed 43 drones over Moscow, while the defense ministry reported intercepting more than 500 Ukrainian drones across Russia overnight [2].
Largest Drone Attack on Moscow in Two Years
The Ukrainian drone offensive targeted the Russian capital on a scale not seen in at least two years, according to Russia's state TASS news agency [2]. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that air defense forces continued to repel a large-scale attack and that 43 drones were destroyed by Russian air defenses during the night [1]. The Russian defense ministry reported intercepting more than 500 Ukrainian drones overnight across Russia, including approaches to Moscow [2]. Russian air defenses shot down 180 drones on approach to Moscow, according to Sobyanin, while another report indicated 194 drones were downed over eight hours [5]. The attack formed part of a broader overnight offensive that also involved strikes farther from the capital, with the defense ministry confirming interceptions over areas including the Sea of Azov [5]. This marked the largest such operation against Moscow since similar attacks in previous months involved only double-digit numbers of drones [5].
Strike on Moscow Oil Refinery
Several drones reached the MNPZ facility, one of Russia's largest oil refineries located in the capital, as confirmed by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Telegram [1]. Russian media outlets reported fires at the site, with unverified videos showing large columns of black smoke over the skyline [2]. The Security Service of Ukraine reported at least four major seats of fire at the refinery, with large plumes of thick black smoke visible from various parts of Moscow [3]. Early reports indicated strikes on storage tanks, a crude oil processing unit for primary processing of crude oil, and a diesel fuel hydrotreating unit [3]. Footage showed a storage tank lid soaring hundreds of feet after impact, while another drone detonated after striking anti-drone nets installed over the facility [1]. The attack occurred for the second time this week, following a previous strike on Tuesday in the Kapotnya district [1]. The Gukovo oil depot in Russia's Rostov Oblast was also struck, with hits and a fire recorded at the site used for storage and transshipment of fuel supporting Russia's military and transport infrastructure [3].
Ukrainian drones strike Moscow Oil Refinery causing fires during large-scale overnight attack. — Source: france24
Disruption in Moscow Region
The attack disrupted operations at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, where passengers were evacuated to safe locations and flights faced restrictions [2]. All major airports in the Moscow area were temporarily closed during the barrage [5]. A drone crashed into an apartment building in the Zhukovsky district of the Moscow region, damaging the building and some balconies but causing no injuries, according to Moscow region governor Andrey Vorobyov [2]. Drone debris sparked a fire at a shopping center near the capital's suburbs, while additional debris fell on an industrial facility and a private residence in the surrounding area [2]. Russian air defenses intercepted the drones amid the large-scale offensive that also affected traffic, with streets near the refinery closed by authorities [2].
Zelensky's Justification and Broader Strikes
President Zelensky described the strikes on the refinery, targets in Rostov region, and occupied Ukrainian territories as a justified response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities [1]. He stated on social media that the operation was a fully justified response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and communities and another important result of the work by Ukrainian forces against facilities supporting Russia's war machine [3]. Zelensky thanked the Security Service of Ukraine, Special Operations Forces, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, and a missile brigade for their coordinated efforts [3]. Additional strikes hit a road bridge across the Kalka River near Hranitne in Donetsk Oblast and a railway bridge across the North Crimean Canal near Rozdolne in occupied Crimea, both used by Russian forces for military transport and logistics [3]. A Russian command post was struck near Soledar in Donetsk Oblast, along with fuel and lubricant depots in Mariupol and Piatypillia and a matériel depot near Boikivske, all in Donetsk Oblast [3]. Zelensky noted that it is time the war ended and Russia must take the necessary steps in diplomacy [3].
Simultaneous Russian Attacks on Ukraine
Earlier in the night, a missile attack targeted Kyiv, confirmed by the head of Kyiv's military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, who reported no immediate casualties or damage [1]. A Reuters witness heard explosions in the capital after an air alert, with people running toward shelters [1]. Russia unleashed ballistic missiles on Kyiv in the second air attack on the city this week [2]. In the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, one person was killed in a drone attack, according to regional authorities [2]. Air strike alerts covered most of Ukraine's territory as Russia continued near-daily aerial barrages [1]. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia struck back with seven missiles and 239 drones against Ukraine overnight, hitting locations including a private residence, an energy facility, and a hangar, while also claiming strikes on oil facilities in the Kyiv and Poltava regions [5].
Diplomatic Context and Timing
The drone attack on Moscow occurred hours before Russian President Putin was scheduled to host Southeast Asian leaders at an ASEAN summit in Kazan, about 700 kilometres east of the capital, with prime ministers from Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Singapore attending along with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos [2]. The timing came amid stalled diplomatic efforts to end the conflict more than four years after it began [1]. At a G7 summit in Evian, France, earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said Moscow should conclude an agreement and that Washington could reimpose sanctions on Russia [1]. Putin has repeatedly refused face-to-face talks with Zelensky while intending to capture Ukraine's eastern Donbas region by force [2]. Russia's economy remains on a war footing with high inflation, labor shortages from record unemployment, and high borrowing costs, while advances on the battlefield have slowed this year [2]. Kyiv has intensified strikes on Russian oil infrastructure to reduce Moscow's capacity to fund its war effort, as oil revenues make up at least a third of Russia's state budget [5].
What to watch next: Further Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure and Russian responses across Ukraine remain likely as diplomatic talks stay stalled and both sides continue long-range operations.
