Ukrainian drones hit Moscow oil refinery amid exchanges

The regional governor reported that a high-rise residential building, an industrial facility and a number of private houses in the surrounding Moscow region were damaged in the attack. A shopping centre also suffered minor damage, according to Sobyanin. The strikes prompted the suspension of flights at Moscow's airports.

Scale of the strike

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the operation on the social media platform X, writing in English: "Last night, our long-range sanctions once again reached the Moscow region — for the second time this week, the Moscow oil refinery was hit." The strike may have been the largest yet carried out by Ukraine against the Russian capital.

A drone strike on Tuesday had already halted operations at the Moscow refinery, according to industry sources. The latest attack came as Russia fired missiles into Kyiv, underscoring an intensifying exchange between the two countries. Russian bombing of the Ukrainian capital had been intensifying for weeks prior to the drone strike on Moscow, with Ukraine striking back in response.

Economic fallout in Russia

The attacks on Russian energy infrastructure have had measurable economic consequences. Russia, the world's third-biggest oil producer, is set to import fuel by sea this month as it seeks to manage a fuel shortage following extensive Ukrainian drone strikes on its refineries, according to industry sources. The strikes have caused widespread damage and extended a fuel crisis deeper into the country.

Zelenskyy has sought support from the United States and Europe to reach a peace deal, framing the long-range strikes as part of Ukraine's effort to pressure Moscow. The repeated targeting of the Moscow region, including a swarm of drones in Wednesday night's operation, marks a significant escalation in the use of unmanned aerial systems deep inside Russian territory.

The exchange of strikes highlights the continued role of long-range drone warfare in the conflict, with both sides targeting each other's infrastructure and urban areas. Civilian buildings in Moscow were damaged alongside the refinery, and flights in and out of the Russian capital were disrupted as the attack unfolded.