Moscow mayor says dozens of Ukrainian drones downed in attack on Russian capital
In a daring move, dozens of Ukrainian long-range drones launched an attack on Moscow overnight into Tuesday morning, causing significant damage to a major oil refinery and disrupting flight operations at all four of the city’s international airports. The city’s Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed the attack, stating that one of the drones damaged a facility on the grounds of the Moscow Refinery, although no casualties were reported.
Videos circulating online showed the Gazprom-owned refinery engulfed in flames, with a massive plume of black smoke billowing from the site located in the Kapotnya District to the southeast of the city. Ukrainian forces have been escalating their drone attacks on Moscow in recent months as part of a broader long-range strike campaign into Russia, which Ukrainian officials have dubbed “long-range sanctions.”
This latest strike marked the ninth consecutive day of Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow, with Mayor Sobyanin reporting the largest number of drones shot down in a single day since May 17. In fact, more Ukrainian drones have been downed this year than in all of 2025, with a total of 1,134 craft intercepted by Russian forces.
The attack on Moscow came on the heels of a major Russian assault on Kyiv, which resulted in casualties, damage to historical landmarks, and condemnation from Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared a video of the burning Moscow refinery on Telegram, attributing the damage to Ukrainian long-range strikes aimed at compelling Russia to end the war.
Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine’s Counter-Disinformation Center, highlighted the strategic importance of the Moscow refinery, which accounts for a significant portion of the city’s gasoline needs. Despite Russian defenses, Kovalenko emphasized that Muscovites were not safe from Ukrainian long-range attacks.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that at least 172 Ukrainian drones were downed in the overnight strikes, part of a broader wave of attacks. Flight restrictions were imposed at multiple airports across southern and western Russia, including all four of Moscow’s international airports, leading to widespread disruptions in air travel.
Ukraine’s air force also reported Russian long-range attacks, with 132 drones and two missiles launched into the country. The air force successfully intercepted or neutralized the majority of the drones, preventing significant damage across nine locations.
The escalating drone warfare between Ukraine and Russia underscores the intensifying conflict and the devastating impact on civilian infrastructure and air travel. As both sides continue to engage in long-range strikes, the toll on both military and civilian targets is likely to increase, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
