Ukrainian drones struck several locations across Moscow in Kyiv’s biggest air raid on the city since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, setting a major oil refinery on fire and forcing evacuations at the country’s largest airport. The attack targeted the Kapotnya refinery, which supplies up to 40% of the capital’s petrol and about 50% of its diesel fuel.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as a response to Russia’s earlier strike on a historic Kyiv monastery complex. “If Ukraine is going to burn, your Moscow will burn too,” he said, adding that it was time to end the war. Russia’s foreign minister announced in turn that Moscow would launch large-scale group strikes on Ukraine on a regular basis.
The scale of the raid caught many residents by surprise, as Moscow does not typically issue air raid warnings. Social media posts showed three plumes of smoke rising from the refinery, and local authorities reported at least 17 people injured, including two children. Russia claimed that its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 555 Ukrainian drones overnight.
President Vladimir Putin was in Kazan hosting leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as part of Russia’s efforts to bolster business ties. The attack came after Kyiv was hit by a major strike of ballistic missiles and drones, and followed Zelenskyy’s call with the presidents of the US and France, where he won pledges of further support from the G7 summit.
European leaders expressed optimism about Ukraine’s prospects, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying Ukraine is holding the line and even regaining territory. Meanwhile, UK Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis announced that Britain would pay £750m to supply Kyiv with 150,000 Ukrainian-made drones and more than 350 air defence missiles.
