The Times of Russia — Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Russian territory, targeting a major Moscow oil refinery for the second time in a week and causing significant disruption across the Russian capital region.
According to Russian officials, the overnight attack sparked a major fire at the Moscow Oil Refinery, located approximately 15 kilometres from the Kremlin. Images and videos circulating on Russian media showed thick black smoke rising over the city as emergency services responded to the incident.
The refinery, one of Russia’s largest fuel-processing facilities, plays a crucial role in supplying fuel to the Moscow region. Authorities stated that the facility had also been targeted earlier in the week, although the previous fire was quickly contained.
The latest Russia news reports indicate that the drone attack also affected air travel. Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport temporarily suspended operations and evacuated passengers as a precautionary measure before normal services were restored later.
Regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported that at least 16 people were injured during the attacks. Drone debris reportedly struck residential buildings, private homes, vehicles, a shopping centre and other infrastructure in the Moscow region.
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed that air defence systems intercepted hundreds of Ukrainian drones overnight, including many approaching Moscow. Officials described the attack as one of the largest drone operations launched against Russian territory since the start of the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defended the operation, stating that Ukraine would continue to respond to Russian military actions. He argued that pressure on Russian territory is intended to encourage negotiations and bring an end to the war.
In response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that Moscow would continue carrying out large-scale strikes against Ukrainian targets, signalling further escalation in the conflict.
The developments come as Ukraine seeks additional diplomatic and military support from Western allies. Ukrainian officials have highlighted recent international commitments to strengthen the country’s defence capabilities amid ongoing fighting.
As the conflict enters another critical phase, the latest events underscore the growing role of drone warfare and the increasing impact of attacks deep inside Russian territory. The Times of Russia will continue to monitor developments and provide updates on this evolving situation.
