Ukraine targeted a major oil refinery near Moscow overnight into Tuesday, igniting a significant fire and releasing dark smoke over the Russian capital. This attack marks another instance of Ukraine striking essential oil infrastructure well beyond its borders.
The incident follows a substantial Russian aerial attack on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, damaging a well-known cathedral and monastery, leading to global condemnation. Ukrainian authorities reported at least 11 fatalities across the country.
World leaders from key economies plan to address a ceasefire agreement at the G7 summit in France this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Ukraine’s operation, stating that drones covered a distance of 500 kilometers (310 miles) to hit the Moscow Oil Refinery as a “just response” to Russia’s assaults on Ukraine.
The Moscow Oil Refinery is the largest facility in the area, contributing about 40 percent of the petroleum needs for the region surrounding the capital. Ukrainian media sources highlighted its significance.
According to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, Russian air defenses intercepted 60 Ukrainian drones overnight into Tuesday. One drone reportedly damaged an unspecified structure within the refinery, although no injuries were reported. Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian official, mentioned that a unit used for oil processing caught fire.
This raid is among Ukraine’s most significant drone operations on the Russian capital this year, reports Russia’s Tass state news agency. President Zelensky acknowledged the reach of Ukraine’s long-range drones in this operation.
Now the question is whether the Moscow refinery will be suspended or there will be a critical loss of capacity,said Kovalenko.
Kyiv has consistently targeted Russian oil refineries, pipelines, and storage sites using drones capable of long-distance flights, aiming to cut off essential funds for Russia’s military efforts. Russia, a major oil exporter, has seen its crude oil production slashed by hundreds of thousands of barrels per day amid increased demand due to the Iran conflict and instability in the Gulf region.
Russia’s energy ministry acknowledged earlier this month that Ukrainian airstrikes have caused “temporary difficulties with fuel supplies” in southern Russia. The government has established a new task force to manage these supply issues.
Ukraine’s SBU internal security service coordinated the attack alongside its drone forces, special operations forces, and military intelligence operatives, according to Zelensky.