Published on
18/06/2026 – 8:30 GMT+2
Ukrainian forces conducted a series of drone strikes on Moscow early Thursday, according to local authorities. The attacks reportedly impacted a major oil refinery, marking the second incident this week.
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Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin stated that air defenses intercepted 180 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) approaching the capital, though several managed to strike the refinery. He described the incident as a “massive” attack. Emergency services are responding to multiple sites across the city, as confirmed by Sobyanin.
Social media videos show a large explosion and fire at the refinery location. The attacks are part of Ukraine’s broader campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, which has intensified in recent months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has characterized these strikes as a “just” form of “long-range sanctions” against Moscow. This includes targeting oil refineries, terminals, and depots. Last week, Zelenskyy confirmed strikes on the Kuibyshev refinery in Samara and two oil infrastructure sites in Vladimir.
Zelenskyy noted that Russia deployed 1,920 attack drones, 1,790 guided bombs, and 17 missiles against Ukraine last week.
The Ukrainian leader arrived in Brussels on Wednesday, where he met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Discussions focused on the NATO Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) and measures to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense. Zelenskyy emphasized securing additional missile systems and increasing pressure on Russia.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting Southeast Asian leaders in Kazan for the ASEAN-Russia summit. Representatives from 11 countries, including Vietnam and Thailand, are expected to discuss strategic partnerships and cooperation in political, economic, and humanitarian sectors.
