MOSCOW — Ukrainian drones struck a major oil refinery in southeast Moscow early on Thursday, sparking fires and sending plumes of black smoke over the Russian capital for the second time in three days, Russian officials said.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said several drones reached the Kapotnya refinery, operated by Gazprom Neft, one of the largest fuel suppliers to the Moscow region. Emergency services worked to contain fires at the facility, located within the city's ring road about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the Kremlin.
Russian air defenses intercepted nearly 200 Ukrainian drones approaching Moscow, according to Sobyanin, while Russia's Defense Ministry reported downing hundreds more across the country in what it described as a large-scale attack. Details on the total number of drones involved remained unclear.
The strike disrupted air traffic, with operations temporarily halted at major Moscow airports including Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky. Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed, aviation authorities said.
Russian officials reported that at least 17 people, including two children, were injured in the Moscow area from the broader drone activity. No immediate deaths were confirmed at the refinery itself. Ukrainian officials have not directly claimed responsibility for the specific refinery strike but have described such operations as part of efforts to respond to Russian attacks.
The incident marks an escalation in Ukrainian long-range drone operations targeting Russian energy infrastructure. A similar strike on Tuesday had already halted operations at the same refinery, according to industry sources, contributing to broader disruptions in Russian fuel production.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously linked such strikes to Russia's continued military campaign, stating they demonstrate Ukraine's capabilities. Russian authorities vowed continued responses to the attacks.
The refinery supplies a significant portion of Moscow's fuel needs, with earlier damage affecting primary processing capacity. Thick smoke and reports of residue falling in parts of the city followed the latest strike, though officials said fires were brought under control by midday.
As of Thursday afternoon, operations at the affected sites and flight schedules were returning to normal, authorities said. Further details on the extent of damage and any long-term impact on refining capacity were not immediately available.
The attacks come amid ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides have reported intensified drone and missile exchanges in recent weeks.
