Ukraine Launches Major Drone Attack on Moscow Refinery, Disrupting Flights and Embarrassing Putin

Ukraine conducted one of its largest drone attacks since the full-scale invasion began, striking a major Moscow oil refinery on Thursday and causing widespread disruption across the Russian capital. The assault sent thick plumes of black smoke over Moscow and forced the temporary closure of major airports, including Sheremetievo, where passengers were evacuated to safe areas. Hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled as a result. The MNPZ refinery in the Kapotnia district, which supplies over a third of the Moscow region's fuel, was the primary target and has now been struck twice within a week.

Russian air defenses reported intercepting approximately 180 drones near Moscow, with the Ministry of Defence claiming to have shot down over 500 Ukrainian drones nationwide during the overnight operation. Despite these interceptions, significant fires erupted at the refinery, and debris from drones caused additional fires at residential areas and a shopping centre in surrounding regions. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobianin characterised the assault as a large-scale attack but did not immediately disclose the full extent of damage.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the strike as a justified response to Russian attacks and characterised such operations as "long-range sanctions" designed to pressure Moscow into negotiations. "If Ukraine is going to burn, your Moscow will burn too," Zelenskyy stated, emphasising that the attack aims to make ordinary Russians understand the cost of the war and force Putin to the negotiating table. Ukrainian officials linked the timing to recent diplomatic engagement, with Zelenskyy noting he had coordinated with the presidents of the United States and France following pledges of support from the G7 summit.

The attack occurred while President Putin was hosting leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Kazan, approximately 700 kilometres east of Moscow, an event he continued without public acknowledgement of the strike. This represents the second major Ukrainian drone attack during a high-profile international event hosted by Russia this month, following an earlier strike on St. Petersburg during an economic forum. Russian officials promised escalatory responses, with Parliament Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin warning of "harsher blows with more powerful weapons," while some nationalist figures called for nuclear retaliation.

Ukraine has intensified drone operations against Russian oil refineries in recent months as part of a broader strategy to reduce Moscow's war-related revenue and demonstrate the conflict's impact on Russian civilians. Meanwhile, Russia launched over 200 drones and multiple ballistic missiles against Ukraine between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, according to Ukrainian military sources. The ongoing attacks underscore the deepening cycle of escalation as diplomatic negotiations remain stalled.