Ukraine Drone Attack on Major Russian Refinery

 

Earlier today, Ukrainian drones struck a major oil refinery near Moscow and caused three airports in the region to shut down, the Associated Press reports:

"Ukraine struck a major Moscow oil refinery Thursday for a second time in a week, sending huge plumes of black smoke over the capital and disrupting flights at its airports in one of its biggest drone attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion over four years ago, officials said.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian oil facilities, aiming to cut Moscow’s revenue for the war and make Russians feel the consequences of the invasion. Some areas have reported fuel shortages. [snip]

The Moscow attack was the latest embarrassment for Russian President Vladimir Putin, after a Ukrainian drone attack on his hometown of St. Petersburg earlier this month as he welcomed foreign VIPs to his showcase economic forum in the city.

Thick, black smoke and occasional flames spewed from the Moscow Oil Refinery amid its red-and-white smokestacks on the southeastern edge of the city, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the Kremlin. Sooty, black rain fell on cars, according to local video. [snip]

The refinery is one of Russia’s biggest, according to its official website, and produces more than a third of the Moscow region’s fuel. It was last attacked by Ukrainian drones on Tuesday, catching fire, but officials said the blaze was swiftly put out.

Flights from four Moscow airports were temporarily halted, transport and aviation authorities said." (our emphasis)

Imagine how much more Ukraine could be doing if the groveling Malignant Fascist hadn't tied an arm behind President Zelensky's back out of fealty to the Russian war criminal. Pressure is growing in Congress to pass more sanctions on the Russian regime to force it to negotiate with Ukraine, but a phone call from Putin to the MF could derail tougher sanctions. Nonetheless, Ukraine increasingly has the initiative, and its drone and cruise missile force is tipping the balance in the unconventional war with the Russian imperialists.

BONUS: Check out this vid of a storage tank lid sent flying by the explosions.

The moment a storage tank at the Moscow oil refinery was hit: the blast blew the tank's lid off.

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— Anton Gerashchenko (@antongerashchenko.bsky.social) June 18, 2026 at 2:43 AM

(photo:  Exilenova+ / Telegram)