Ukraine Hits Moscow Oil Refinery in Largest Drone Attack on Russian Capital

Ukrainian forces launched what military analysts are calling the largest single-night long-range drone attack ever conducted against Moscow on Thursday, sending nearly 200 drones toward the Russian capital. While Russian air defences intercepted most of them, several broke through and struck the city's main oil refinery — the Moscow (Kapotnya) Refinery — for the second time within seven days, sending thick black smoke billowing over the southeastern edge of the city, roughly 15 kilometres from the Kremlin.

Airports Shut, City Disrupted

All of Moscow's major airports — including Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Vnukovo — were temporarily closed "to ensure flight safety" in the early hours of Thursday morning as the attack unfolded. Hundreds of flights were delayed or diverted. Explosions and fire were reported at multiple points across the city, with residents posting footage of the blaze at the Kapotnya refinery on social media. No casualty figures were immediately available.

Zelenskyy's Message

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian forces had deliberately targeted the Moscow refinery because it "is involved in supporting the Russian military." He framed the strike as a message to the Kremlin: "It is time the war ended, and Russia must take the necessary steps in diplomacy." Earlier in the week, in a separate statement, Zelenskyy warned: "Moscow will burn if Putin continues the war."

Strategic Escalation

The strikes represent a significant escalation in Ukraine's campaign to bring the economic and psychological costs of the war directly to Russian territory. The Kapotnya refinery processes approximately 10–12 million tonnes of crude oil per year and is a critical piece of Moscow's energy infrastructure. Analysts say repeated attacks on fuel infrastructure across Russia are designed to degrade military logistics and raise the domestic political cost of President Putin's war.