Ukraine launched one of its largest drone assaults since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, targeting a major oil refinery in Moscow and causing temporary disruptions to flights at several airports in and around the Russian capital, Russian authorities said Thursday.
The attack hit the Moscow Oil Refinery, one of the country’s largest fuel-processing facilities and a key supplier to the capital region. Russian media footage showed large fires and thick smoke rising from the site, located about 15 kilometers from the Kremlin. The facility had also been targeted earlier this week.
The strike came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, describing the talks as important and potentially capable of producing meaningful developments.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine also secured additional commitments of support from leaders attending the G7 summit in France, including backing from the United States.
Russian officials reported that air defenses intercepted 555 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions, with nearly 200 heading toward Moscow. Temporary flight restrictions were imposed at four airports serving the capital.
In the Moscow region, drones and falling debris damaged residential and commercial properties, including private homes, a shopping center, a fitness facility and an industrial site. Authorities said one woman was injured. A residential building in the town of Zhukovsky was evacuated after being struck by a drone.
Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian oil infrastructure in an effort to weaken Moscow’s war financing and bring the effects of the conflict closer to the Russian population.
The latest attack marked another security setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin, following a recent drone strike on St. Petersburg during a major international economic forum.
Speaking on social media, Zelenskyy described the operation as a justified response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and said it was aimed at pressuring Moscow to engage in diplomacy.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed that message, saying Russian citizens should question their leadership about ending the war rather than asking why such attacks are occurring.
Military analysts and Western officials say Ukraine has recently gained momentum through the expanded use of advanced drone technology, enabling it to strike deep inside Russia and disrupt military supply routes in occupied territories.
French President Emmanuel Macron said support for Ukraine remained a key focus of the G7 summit, stressing that continued assistance from Western allies, particularly the United States, was essential for Kyiv's defense and ability to respond to Russian aggression.