Widespread Drone Attack Targets Moscow Refinery
Residents in parts of Moscow have reported a phenomenon of 'black rain' after an oil refinery was struck during what has been described as the largest Ukrainian drone assault on the Russian capital since the onset of the full-scale conflict. Nearly 200 drones were reportedly launched towards Moscow, leading to large columns of smoke visible across the skyline.
According to local governor Andrei Vorobyov, 17 individuals were injured in the Moscow region. Residents in the southeastern part of the region informed reporters of a fine drizzle that left "unpleasant black spots" on their clothing. Despite these accounts, Moscow authorities denied any "oil rain" had occurred. However, the city's official Telegram channel advised residents in the affected district to keep windows closed and urged families with children, elderly individuals, and asthmatics to evacuate the area.
Impact and Responses
Russia's defense ministry stated that almost 1,000 drones and four Ukrainian cruise missiles were intercepted and destroyed nationwide within 24 hours. Separately, an oil depot in the southern Rostov region was hit, resulting in one fatality.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky characterized the drone strike as a retaliation for a recent Russian attack on Kyiv, which caused a fire at the Pechersk Lavra monastery. "We don't want this war and have never wanted it," Zelensky commented. "But if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn too." In response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that strikes on Ukraine would be delivered "on a mass scale," expressing his long-held belief that "words are not enough."
The fire at the Kapotnya refinery was visible to motorists on the Moscow ringroad.
The Kapotnya refinery in southeast Moscow, which was hit for the third time in a month and second time in a week, saw fires erupt, contributing to the black smoke. Videos showed a large silo's top being blown off by an explosion, and a nearby shopping center reportedly caught fire from drone debris. Other verified footage depicted a drone crashing into a high-rise building and a dark, oily sheen coating a car park's tarmac.
A local woman described stepping out of her apartment building into a "fine, light drizzle" that left "unpleasant black spots" on her and her friend's clothes. She expressed concern about potential health effects from petroleum products.
Moscow's four airports experienced temporary closures, leading to over 500 flight cancellations or delays. Despite official bans on publishing images of drone strike aftermath, numerous videos circulated on social media, showing drones in daylight and explosions over industrial zones near Moscow.
Evolving Drone Warfare
Ukrainian tactics often involve launching numerous reconnaissance and decoy drones to assess air defenses before initiating main strikes. Four and a half years into the full-scale invasion, the war of attrition continues on the Ukrainian front lines, often out of public view for many Russians. Kyiv's long-range strikes on targets across Russia, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, reflect Zelensky's objective of "bringing the war home" to ordinary Russian citizens.
A resident near the affected refinery described being woken by his building shaking at dawn, followed by the smell of burning and difficulty breathing. He expressed increasing fear, stating, "Before, I wasn't so scared, but now it is almost a panic."
Drone attacks on Moscow, approximately 500km from the Ukrainian border, have become more frequent as Kyiv develops its long-range capabilities. Initial successful drone strikes on the Russian capital in spring 2023 were sporadic, but the number of drones used in subsequent attacks has multiplied, with some penetrating Moscow's extensive air defenses. While no air defense system offers complete protection against massive, high-tech drone assaults, the recent barrage is likely to prompt questions regarding the effectiveness of existing defenses around critical infrastructure in Moscow.
Concurrently, Russia launched over 200 drones and multiple ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight, according to Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet commented on the large-scale attack on Moscow.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, commenting on social media, addressed the common question from Muscovites, "What is going on?" He responded, "Your country started a war of aggression against ours. For years, it has been killing our people... Now that you know what's going on, ask Putin when he is planning to end it."
Source: Moscow residents complain of black rain after largest Ukrainian attack hits oil refinery