Ukrainian Drones Hit Moscow Refinery in Overnight Attack

Ukrainian drones struck Moscow on the night of June 18, with one of the primary targets being the Moscow Refinery, a strategically vital component of Russia's energy infrastructure. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed on Telegram that multiple drones entered the refinery's vicinity.

Eyewitnesses reported fires erupting at at least two fuel tanks following the attack. Online footage captured drones flying over Moscow and the surrounding region, as well as the moment of impact at the refinery. Social media shared images and videos depicting dense columns of smoke and intense flames engulfing parts of the facility.

The Moscow Refinery, located in the Kapotnya district in southeastern Moscow, is a significant player in Russia's oil sector. Operated by Gazprom Neft, it has a projected processing capacity of approximately 11-12 million tons of oil annually. This facility plays an essential role in supplying fuel to Russia's central region, meeting up to 40% of Moscow's gasoline needs and around 50% of its diesel consumption. It is also the main supplier of kerosene for the capital's airports.

This attack follows a similar incident just two days prior, on the morning of June 16, when drones targeted the same refinery. That earlier strike ignited the ELOU-AVT-6 installation, described as the 'heart' of the oil processing complex.

In parallel, Russian authorities have implemented fuel sales restrictions in 53 regions across the country. In 18 of these regions, drivers are limited to purchasing a maximum of 50 liters of fuel, or a full tank, per transaction. Similar measures are in place in Russian-occupied territories, including Crimea, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics. The Moscow Times cited repeated Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries as a primary cause for these restrictions, with Reuters reporting that by the end of May, nearly all major refineries in central Russia had reduced operations or temporarily suspended them due to attacks and repair work.

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Locuitorii din apropiere susțin însă că în urma atacului au izbucnit incendii la cel puțin două rezervoare de combustibil.