MOSCOW, Russia — Ukrainian drones struck Moscow’s main oil refinery on Thursday, igniting a fire and marking the second attack on the facility this week, as Russia and Ukraine exchanged some of the most significant cross-border strikes in recent months.
Russian officials said hundreds of drones targeted various parts of the country, including the capital, while Ukraine reported renewed Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other cities. The latest escalation comes as diplomatic efforts to end the more than four-year war remain stalled.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that several Ukrainian drones reached the Kapotnya oil refinery in southeastern Moscow, a key facility that supplies fuel to the Russian capital. Reuters journalists at the scene reported seeing flames and thick smoke rising from the refinery complex.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said it intercepted 555 Ukrainian drones nationwide, including 180 in the Moscow region. State news agency TASS described the assault as one of the largest drone attacks on the Russian capital this year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the strike on the refinery and described it as a response to recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Ukraine’s military also reported strikes on an oil depot in Russia’s Rostov region and damage to two bridges used for military logistics.
“We don’t want this war, we never did,” Zelenskyy said in a message shared with reporters. He added that Ukraine’s actions were a response to continued Russian attacks and aimed at facilities supporting Russia’s war effort.
The latest exchange followed a Russian strike earlier this week that damaged the historic Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, a UNESCO-recognized religious and cultural site that traces its origins to the 11th century. The attack drew international criticism, although Moscow denied targeting the monastery.
Russian missile attacks again targeted Kyiv on Thursday. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv Military Administration, said ballistic missiles were used in the assault. Air raid alerts were issued across much of Ukraine, while authorities continued assessing possible damage and casualties.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, officials reported that one person was killed in a drone attack in the northeastern city of Sumy. In the southeastern city of Dnipro, regional authorities said a Russian attack killed one person and injured 11 others.
Russian regional officials also reported casualties from Ukrainian strikes. In Belgorod, near the Ukrainian border, a drone attack reportedly killed a man in his vehicle. Authorities in Rostov said another person died after a drone strike triggered fires at two commercial facilities.
The Moscow region sustained additional damage beyond the refinery. Regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov said a residential high-rise, an industrial facility, and several private homes were damaged. Sixteen people were reported injured.
The attacks also disrupted transportation across the Russian capital. Authorities temporarily suspended flights at all Moscow airports, while traffic was halted on roads near the refinery. Sheremetyevo International Airport, the city’s busiest airport, was reportedly evacuated as a precaution.
Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian energy infrastructure with long-range drones as it seeks to weaken Moscow’s military logistics and economic capacity. Repeated attacks on refineries, fuel depots, and transportation networks have placed growing pressure on Russia’s energy sector.
Industry sources told Reuters that recent Ukrainian strikes have contributed to fuel supply challenges in Russia, one of the world’s largest oil producers and exporters. The country is reportedly preparing to import fuel by sea to help manage domestic gasoline shortages caused by refinery disruptions.
The conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has evolved into a war increasingly defined by long-range drone and missile attacks. While Ukraine says its expanding drone capabilities are shifting momentum on the battlefield, Russia maintains that Ukrainian forces remain at a disadvantage.
Efforts to revive peace negotiations remain uncertain. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the latest Ukrainian attacks could further delay any direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy. Moscow continues to insist that Ukraine accept territorial concessions before meaningful negotiations can proceed, a condition Kyiv has repeatedly rejected.
As both sides intensify attacks far from the front lines, concerns continue to grow over civilian casualties, damage to critical infrastructure, and the prospects for a negotiated settlement to Europe’s largest armed conflict since World War II.
