Explosions and heavy smoke were seen across parts of Moscow on Thursday after Ukraine launched one of its biggest drone attacks on the Russian capital since the war began. Russian officials said air defenses intercepted hundreds of drones overnight, but some still reached the city and surrounding areas, leaving damage at several locations and injuring 17 people.
One of the main targets was the Kapotnya oil refinery in southeastern Moscow. The refinery has been attacked more than once in recent weeks, and this latest strike caused another large fire. Videos shared online showed flames rising above the site while thick smoke spread across the skyline. In one clip, an explosion sent the top of an oil storage tank flying into the air.
The damage was not limited to the refinery. Officials said falling drone debris hit apartment buildings, private homes, a shopping mall, and other buildings around the Moscow region. The roof of the mall caught fire, and emergency crews were sent to several locations as they worked to put out fires and inspect damaged property.
People who live near the refinery described a stressful morning. Some said they found dark particles on their clothing and cars after going outside following a light rain. Moscow officials said there was no evidence that oil had fallen from the sky, but they still advised residents in the area to avoid unnecessary time outdoors and keep their windows closed because of the smoke.
One man living nearby said he woke before sunrise when loud blasts shook his apartment building. Later that morning, he said the smell of smoke filled the neighborhood and made the air difficult to breathe. Another resident said she noticed black marks on her clothes after being outside for only a short time.
The attack also caused problems for travelers. All four airports serving Moscow temporarily stopped operations while authorities responded to the drone threat. Hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled before service slowly returned later in the day.
Ukraine said the strikes were carried out after Russia’s recent attack on Kyiv, which damaged the Pechersk Lavra monastery. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine did not want the war but argued that Russia should expect attacks inside its own territory if missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities continue. He also called for a diplomatic end to the conflict.
Russian officials promised a response. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia would increase its military strikes, and the Defense Ministry later announced attacks on Ukrainian military and energy sites. Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched another overnight wave of drones and ballistic missiles at targets across Ukraine.
Long-range drone attacks have become much more common during the war. Ukraine has steadily expanded its ability to strike military and energy facilities deep inside Russia, while Moscow has continued strengthening air defenses around the capital. Even with those defenses in place, recent attacks have shown that some drones are still able to reach important targets.
President Vladimir Putin was attending a regional summit in Kazan while the attack took place and did not immediately comment. The latest exchange added to a growing pattern of both sides carrying out strikes far from the battlefield, bringing the effects of the war to cities well beyond the front lines.
Ukraine = Blue
Russia = Red
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