MOSCOW — Residents in parts of southeastern Moscow reported what they described as “black rain” and oily residue falling from the sky on Thursday after a major Ukrainian drone attack damaged a key oil refinery in the Russian capital, according to local reports and Russian officials.
The reports followed one of the largest drone assaults on Moscow since the conflict escalated in 2022. Russian authorities said air defenses engaged large numbers of Ukrainian drones targeting the capital and surrounding region overnight. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said a facility at the Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district was damaged during the attack, while emergency services responded to fires and other incidents.
Videos and photographs circulating on social media showed dark smoke rising above the refinery area. Residents in nearby districts later reported dark-colored precipitation and oily deposits on vehicles and windows. Russian authorities had not publicly confirmed the cause of the reported residue as of Thursday, and details remained unclear. Reports of “black rain” could not be independently verified.
The drone attack disrupted operations across the Moscow region. Russian officials temporarily imposed restrictions at several airports serving the capital, while emergency crews assessed damage at industrial and residential sites. Officials said the refinery, one of Moscow’s primary fuel-processing facilities, had been struck during the assault.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses intercepted large numbers of drones across multiple regions. Moscow officials reported dozens of drones had been shot down as they approached the capital. Ukrainian authorities acknowledged targeting energy-related infrastructure inside Russia but did not provide detailed operational information regarding the specific strike.
The attack came amid a broader escalation of long-range drone operations by both sides. Ukrainian officials have said strikes on Russian energy facilities are intended to disrupt infrastructure supporting Moscow’s military operations. Russia has condemned the attacks and has continued its own aerial campaign against targets in Ukraine.
Governor Andrei Vorobyov of the Moscow region said several people were injured in the broader attack. “Emergency services are working at all affected sites,” regional authorities said in statements released on Thursday. Russian officials did not immediately report fatalities linked to the refinery strike itself.
As of Thursday evening, emergency crews remained at affected locations, and federal investigators were assessing damage. Russian authorities had not released findings on the reported “black rain,” and no official explanation had been provided.
