Heavy Ukrainian drone strikes on Thursday morning slammed parts of Moscow, leaving flames and smoke rising over the southeastern Kapotnya district of the Russian capital.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that Ukrainian drones successfully targeted a major oil refinery in the area once again. Videos showed major strikes on the refinery, with smoke rising over Russia’s largest city.
Apocalyptic scenes outside Moscow. pic.twitter.com/DeMO7QRThy
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) June 18, 2026
According to Astra, an independent Russian internet portal, the refinery suffered at least five separate fires. The facility, which is operated by Gazpromneft, stands as one of the largest refineries in the nation and provides a substantial portion of the fuel supply for Moscow, underlining the serious nature of the strike.
Moscow this morning.
Major wave of Ukrainian drone strikes leaves the Moscow Oil Refinery in flames. pic.twitter.com/1iZDzdAb3K
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) June 18, 2026
Mayor Sobyanin described the drone strikes as a large-scale attack, claiming that air defense systems managed to intercept roughly 180 drones as they moved toward the capital. However, this claim has not been independently verified.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X: “Last night our long-range drones reached the Moscow region again – for the second time this week the Moscow oil refinery was hit. Targets in the Rostov region and in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine were also attacked.“
He added that the operation serves as a “fully justified response to Russian attacks on our cities and towns.”
Last night, our long-range sanctions once again reached the Moscow region – for the second time this week, the Moscow oil refinery was hit. Targets were also struck in the Rostov region and in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. This is a fully justified response to… pic.twitter.com/NhFl4FlT9L
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 18, 2026
Reports also indicate that the falling debris and strikes hit a residential building, a large garden center, and caused minor damage to a shopping center in an outlying district. So far, no injuries have been reported in Moscow or surrounding areas.
The attack also disrupted traffic in the area, according to Russian state media. Flights were also suspended and evacuations took place at Sheremetyevo Airport, the largest airport serving Moscow.
Just days ago, on Tuesday, a Ukrainian strike halted operations at the refinery. The fact that Ukraine struck the complex just days later underlines the ease with which Ukraine strikes major energy targets across Russia, with Russia seemingly powerless to stop these attacks.
These latest strikes further strain the energy supply of Russia, despite the country being a global oil producer. The situation has deteriorated to the point that Moscow has been forced to import extra fuel by sea due to continuous Ukrainian targeting of its refineries.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that a total of 555 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed across multiple regions overnight, though this figure remains unverified.
At the same time, Ukraine reported facing fresh Russian strikes. Authorities in Kyiv directed residents to seek shelter due to ballistic missiles, and a drone strike in the northeastern city of Sumy resulted in one death.
Drone strikes were also recorded in Russian-border regions and Russian-occupied territories. Enerhodar, a city housing many workers from the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, reported one death. In the Belgorod region of Russia, local authorities indicated that one man was killed inside his vehicle during a Ukrainian drone attack.
The post Moscow burns after major Ukrainian drone strike hits refinery appeared first on Remix News.
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