Ukraine hits Moscow refinery in major attack on capital

Scores of Ukrainian drones rained down on Moscow, striking the oil refinery in the Russian capital for the second time in as many days in a sign of Kiev’s growing capabilities to force Russia to accept a peace deal.

Russia launched a missile at Kiev for the second time days later, following the attack that damaged the 1,000-year-old monastery, which is the symbol of Kiev, and sparked international condemnation.

In Moscow on Thursday, Reuters saw flames and clouds of smoke over the densely populated southeastern Kapotnya region, where the refinery supplying fuel to the capital is located.

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, “Air defense forces continue to repel a major attack. A large number of unmanned aerial vehicles managed to reach the Moscow oil refinery.” he said, adding that a shopping mall also suffered minor damage.

The Russian defense ministry said 555 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down across the country.

Sobyanin said 180 people were shot around Moscow alone.

State news agency TASS said the attack on Moscow was one of the biggest attacks of 2026.

Over the four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russia’s energy infrastructure with long-range drone strikes, while Russia continues to fire missiles at Ukrainian cities.

After years in which Russian forces made slow but inexorable gains on the battlefield, Kiev says improved drone capabilities are turning the tide of the war in its favor and giving Moscow new impetus to agree to a peace deal.

“One of the most popular questions asked by Muscovites this morning is ‘What’s going on?’ I can answer. Your country has launched a war of aggression against ours. He has been slaughtering our people for years. “Now that you know what’s going on, ask Putin when he plans to end this.” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha shared on X.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the attacks on Russia “a completely fair response to Russian attacks on our cities and communities and another important result of our soldiers’ work on facilities that provide support for the Russian war machine.”

An earlier drone attack on Moscow’s refinery on Tuesday had already halted operations there, causing massive damage to Russian energy facilities, sources said.

Russia, the world’s third-largest oil producer and a major oil and fuel exporter, is preparing to import fuel by sea in June as it tries to relieve oil shortages following Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries, according to industry sources.

A high-rise residential building, an industrial facility and several private houses in the surrounding Moscow region were also damaged in the drone attack, the regional governor said.

Flights were suspended at all airports in Moscow and traffic was closed on the highway around the capital near the refinery.

It was stated that Sheremetyevo Airport, Moscow’s busiest airport, was evacuated.

Elsewhere in Russia, officials said a Ukrainian drone strike killed one person in his car in the Belgorod border region, while a Ukrainian drone strike killed one person and caused a fire at two commercial facilities in the southern Rostov region.

Explosions were heard in Kiev and air raid alerts were issued for much of Ukrainian territory.

Authorities in the northeastern city of Sumy in Ukraine said that one person was killed in a drone attack.

On Monday, Russia’s major attack on Kiev damaged a medieval monastery symbolizing Ukraine’s spiritual and cultural heritage, prompting condemnation from European leaders. Russia denied the attack.

Zelenskiy launched a diplomatic initiative to increase pressure on Russia to negotiate an end to the war.

Saying that Ukraine had lost, Moscow demanded that Kiev give additional territory before negotiating peace.