Ukraine launches largest drone strike on Moscow in two years, hitting key oil refinery and grounding flights

Attack on Moscow

Early on Thursday, June 18, Ukraine launched the largest drone assault on Moscow in two years, with nearly 200 unmanned aerial vehicles penetrating deep into Russian territory. Russian air defense systems reportedly intercepted at least 194 drones over the Moscow region, according to mayor Sergei Sobyanin, while the defense ministry said a total of 555 drones were downed nationwide. Several drones, however, struck the Moscow Oil Refinery in the southeastern Kapotnya district, igniting massive fires and sending thick black smoke into the sky.

“Air defense forces continue to repel a massive attack. Several drones managed to reach the Moscow Oil Refinery.”

Refinery damage and oil rain

Videos circulating on social media showed a storage tank lid being launched hundreds of meters into the air by a powerful explosion, followed by burning oil raining down on cars and buildings in nearby areas. Residents reported a "rain of oil" across parts of the capital. At least 16 people were injured, including two children, according to local authorities. The refinery, which supplies roughly 40% of Moscow's gasoline needs, was hit for the second time this week and the third time in a month.

The strikes also damaged apartment blocks, a shopping centre described as Russia's largest mall, and the capital's biggest outdoor market. Parts of a major commercial centre in the Rostov region were also hit, where one person died.

Airports closed, flights cancelled

All four major Moscow airports suspended operations temporarily amid the attack, with over 500 flights cancelled or delayed. Sheremetyevo, the busiest, evacuated passengers before later lifting restrictions. Aeroflot alone cancelled 170 flights. The disruption highlighted the impact of long-range drone strikes on daily life deep inside Russia.

Zelenskyy: "If Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn too"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the assault as a "completely justified response" to recent Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities, including damage to the historic Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery. He stressed the precision and effectiveness of Ukraine's medium- and long-range strikes, noting that they are a key strategy to pressure Moscow into ending the war. In a social media post, he warned: "If Ukraine is burning, your Moscow will burn too."

“If Ukraine is burning, your Moscow will burn too.”

Retaliation and broader campaign

Russia retaliated hours later with ballistic missiles and 239 drones targeting Kyiv and other regions, causing damage to residential and energy infrastructure. The exchange marked another escalation in a conflict now in its fifth year, as Ukraine systematically targets Russian oil and transport infrastructure to weaken the Kremlin's ability to fund the war. Meanwhile, Russia's defense ministry reported intercepting 555 Ukrainian UAVs over the course of the night, underscoring the scale of the cross-border drone warfare.