Moscow hit by drone attacks; residents report 'black rain' after refinery strike

Moscow was targeted by a significant drone attack, resulting in at least 17 injuries and the temporary closure of all four of the capital's airports, causing hundreds of flight cancellations and delays. The strikes hit various locations, including industrial areas and residential buildings.

One of the primary targets was the Kapotnia refinery in the southeastern outskirts of Moscow. This was the third time the facility had been attacked in a month and the second time in a week. Powerful explosions were captured on social media, showing the roof of a fuel tank being blown high into the air, followed by a large fire. Debris from a downed drone may have also caused a fire in a nearby shopping center.

Following the attacks, residents in southeastern Moscow reported a peculiar phenomenon: small black particles, resembling petroleum products, falling from the sky. "As soon as I left the building, there was a light drizzle. Unpleasant black stains appeared on my clothes," one resident told the BBC. She added that similar traces were seen on a friend's jacket, expressing concern about potential hair loss due to exposure to these substances.

Moscow authorities denied reports of "oil rain" but officially recommended residents close their windows. Families with children, the elderly, and those with asthma were advised to leave the affected areas. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have intercepted or destroyed nearly a thousand drones and four Ukrainian cruise missiles within 24 hours, stating that attacks also occurred in other regions, including Rostov Oblast, where a fuel depot was hit and one person died.