A massive explosion rocked a Moscow oil refinery on Thursday after a Ukrainian drone strike sent a fuel tank soaring into the air. The incident, captured on video, shows the hatch of a fuel storage tank blasted skyward by the force of the blast.
Drone Strike Details
The strike was part of the largest drone assault Moscow has faced since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Over 180 drones have reportedly been directed towards the Russian capital since then. More than 30 drones were intercepted by Russian air defenses as they approached the city, according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
Second Attack in Days
Within just two days, the Moscow Oil Refinery has been targeted twice. Ukrainian drones first struck the facility on June 16, destroying the refinery's vital primary oil-processing unit, according to Ukraine's Security Service (SBU).
Air Defense Failures
The drones managed to evade at least five Pantsir air defense systems stationed on towers and other elevated positions, according to Defence Express. New footage confirms that an errant Russian surface-to-air missile was responsible for the tank roof toss, as reported by OSINTtechnical.
Impact on Fuel Supply
The Moscow Oil Refinery meets approximately half of Moscow's diesel fuel requirements, processing 11 million metric tons of crude oil annually. The refinery was forced to suspend operations following the drone strike, according to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Serhii Sternenko, an aide to Ukraine's defense minister, shared an image of the strike on Telegram with the caption: "Stress relief for Ukrainians."
