Ukrainian Drone Strikes Shake Moscow in Major Assault
Ukrainian drones struck Moscow's Kapotnja oil refinery for the second time this week on Thursday, triggering fires in what officials described as a large-scale assault on the Russian capital.
Moscow Mayor Sergej Sobjanin confirmed the attack, according to Junge Freiheit, as flames and thick smoke were visible over the southeastern part of the Russian capital. Videos circulating on social media showed a powerful explosion and several fires burning at the facility.
The Kapotnja refinery, owned by Gazpromneft, ranks among Russia’s largest refineries and supplies a substantial portion of Moscow’s fuel needs. The independent Russian internet portal Astra reported at least five separate fire sites within the complex.
Moscow Claims Massive Drone Interception
Sobjanin described the operation as a large-scale attack and claimed that Russian air defenses shot down approximately 180 drones approaching Moscow. These figures could not be independently verified. The strikes also reportedly hit a residential building and a large gardening retail center, while falling debris caused minor damage to a shopping center in an outer district. No injuries in Moscow or the surrounding area were initially reported.
Traffic on the Moscow ring road near the refinery was temporarily halted, Russian state media reported. Sheremetyevo Airport, Moscow’s largest, suspended flights and evacuated people to safety as a precaution.
Second Strike in Three Days Intensifies Pressure
The Moscow oil refinery had already been hit on Tuesday in an attack that reportedly halted operations at the facility. The renewed strikes significantly escalate pressure on Russia’s energy infrastructure. Despite being one of the world’s largest oil producers, Russia now must procure additional fuel via maritime routes due to Ukrainian attacks on refineries.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed air defenses intercepted and destroyed a total of 555 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions. This figure also could not be independently confirmed.
Ukraine Reports Russian Counterstrikes
Ukrainian authorities simultaneously reported new Russian attacks. In Kyiv, residents were ordered into shelters due to ballistic missile threats. In the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, one person was killed in a drone strike, according to Ukrainian officials.
Casualties were also reported from Russian-controlled territories and Russian border regions. In Enerhodar, where many employees of the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant reside, one person died according to the Russian-installed administration. In Russia’s Belgorod region, authorities said a man was killed in his car by a Ukrainian drone strike.
Strategic Campaign Targets Russian Energy Network
The latest wave of attacks demonstrates Ukraine’s sustained focus on Russian energy installations. Refineries and fuel depots hold not only military significance for Moscow. When facilities deep in the Russian interior go offline, civilian markets also suffer the consequences.
The strikes represent a serious blow to Moscow, occurring just 15 kilometers from the Kremlin and underscoring the vulnerability of Russia’s strategic infrastructure more than 1,500 days into what was initially described as a brief military operation.
With information from Junge Freiheit
