Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on oil refineries in the Russian capital Moscow this morning, according to reports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the operation as "long-range sanctions" and a proportional response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities. Russian authorities reported downing around 194 drones on Moscow's outskirts and fires at several sites, with no casualties reported so far.
Ukraine struck oil refineries in Moscow on Thursday morning in what it described as a large-scale drone operation, according to reports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky framed the attack as "long-range sanctions" and a measured response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities — a characterization that marked a shift toward directly claiming the operation, after earlier reports had cited unnamed sources. Russian authorities reported intercepting approximately 194 drones on the outskirts of Moscow and said fires broke out at several sites, with no casualties reported. By 09:17 Jerusalem, the desk had reported in four successive versions that Russia had suspended all flights at Moscow airports and claimed over 550 drones intercepted; subsequent Russian reports lowered the interception figure. The refineries had been struck several days earlier, as The Zioneer reported in a bulletin at 11:04 Jerusalem time Thursday.
The desk's earliest version of the story, published at Thu 09:17 Jerusalem, cited Israeli journalist Asaf Rozentzweig (N12) reporting Russian sources that all Moscow airport flights were grounded. A second version at the same timestamp reported the attack continuing with "waves" and large fires. A third version, also at 09:17, reported Russian official confirmation that Ukrainian drones hit Moscow oil refineries. The fourth version at 09:17 added Russia's claim of 550 drones intercepted and a full airport shutdown. At 10:23 Jerusalem, the desk published a separate bulletin citing Amichai Stein (i24NEWS) repeating the airport closure and hundreds-of-drones figure. The scale of this attack — and the president's unusually direct characterization — mark an escalation in Ukraine's campaign to strike strategic economic targets deep inside Russia.
As The Zioneer reported on Tue Jun 16, a previous Ukrainian drone strike had halted Moscow's main oil refinery, a facility supplying an estimated 40% of the capital's fuel. The broader campaign has included strikes on energy facilities and a security facility across Russia, as reported on Wed Jun 10, as well as a strike on an oil facility and an explosives plant in Yaroslavl and Tula oblasts on Sun Jun 14. The overnight Russian strike on Ukraine with some 74 missiles and more than 600 drones, reported Mon Jun 15, was cited by Zelensky as the trigger for the "long-range sanctions" response.
What remains open: the full extent of damage and casualties at the refineries has not yet been independently confirmed. The Russian figure of 194 drones intercepted in Moscow's outskirts is roughly one-third the earlier Russian claim of 550 drones; it is unclear whether the two figures refer to different geographic areas or reflect a revised assessment. No statement from Ukrainian military command on the operation has been issued beyond the president's remarks.
5 developments
- DevelopingUkraine launches largest drone attack yet on Moscow, sources say
- DevelopingRussia says hundreds of Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow, grounding airports
- DevelopingLarge Ukrainian drone attack targets Crimea infrastructure overnight
- DevelopingRussia strikes Kyiv with missiles and drones overnight
Source and signal
- Internal intake