Resident-shot footage shows blasts striking the Kapotnya refinery. a nearby building during Ukraine’s massive drone attack on Moscow, June 18, 2026. (Credit: East2West News)
Ukrainelaunched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, striking a major oil refinery in the Russian capital. sending thick black smoke over parts of the city, according to Russian officials and multiple reports.
The Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district — one of the capital region’s key fuel facilities — was hit overnight Thursday. marking the second reported strike on the site in three days. Videos circulating online showed large flames. black smoke rising from the facility, while Russian officials said air defenses intercepted waves of incomingdrones.
Kyiv says its strikes deep inside Russia are evidence. it is turning the tide of the war — a message President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took this week to PresidentDonald Trumpand other G7 leaders at a summit in France.
The latest strikes underscore a new phase of the war, with Ukraine increasingly able to hit high-value targets deep inside Russia while Moscow struggles to prevent drones from reaching politically sensitive. economically important sites near the capital.
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Smoke. flames rise over Moscow on June 18, 2026, following a Ukrainian drone attack that hit the Kapotnya oil refinery and other targets in the Russian capital.(East2West)
"This is pure hell, I’ve never felt such terror," one Moscow resident said after the attack, according to East2West News.
Another resident, according to the outlet, asked: "Why won’t this madman stop his crazy. pointless war and end the death and destruction?"
East2West news agency also reported that a heavy security presence was deployed around the Kremlin, with Red Square sealed off. machine-gunners positioned on towers, ramparts and near Bolsheviks' founder Vladimir Lenin’s Mausoleum.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said air defenses shot down more than 130 drones approaching the city. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed more than 550 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight across several regions. though battlefield claims from either side could not be independently verified.
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The Moscow Oil Refinery in Kapotnya burns after being hit during Ukraine’s June 18. 2026, drone attack on the Russian capital.(East2West)
The attack disrupted daily life across Moscow, forcing temporary flight suspensions at major airports and traffic restrictions near the refinery. Russian officials said debris also fell near the Sadovod shopping center, damaging a building. The Moscow region governor said 16 people were injured in the broader attack.
Ukraine’sForeign MinisterAndrii Sybiha mocked the confusion in Moscow. writing on X: "One of the most popular questions asked by Muscovites this morning is ‘What is going on?’ I can answer. 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."
The strike appeared to expose vulnerabilities in Moscow’s heavily promoted air defense network, bringing the war deeper into the Russian capital even as the Kremlin continues itslong-range missile. drone attackson Ukrainian cities.
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Explosion seen over Moscow after Ukrainian drones struck the Russian capital, including the Kapotnya oil refinery, June 18, 2026.(East2West)
The Kapotnya refinery is a strategically significant target. A prior Ukrainiandrone strikedamaged part of the refinery in recent days, according to Reuters,. forced a halt in some operations.
East2West reported that the refinery supplies 40% of Moscow’s fuel market. 70% of the surrounding region’s gasoline and aviation fuel needs.
Ukraine increasingly hastargeted Russian energy infrastructurein an effort to undermine Moscow’s war machine. increase the domestic cost of the war inside Russia. Kyiv has described such strikes as part of its campaign of "long-range sanctions" against Russia’s oil and military infrastructure.
The Moscow attack came as President Vladimir Putin hosted leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc in Kazan. Russia. Ukraine also reportedly struck targets linked to Russia’ssupply routes to occupied Crimea, including road and rail infrastructure. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly said isolating Crimea is a key military objective as Kyiv seeks to weaken Russia’s hold on the peninsula. which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014.
Russia, meanwhile, continued its own strikes on Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reportedRussian attacks on energyand oil facilities in the Poltava region and near Kyiv.
East2West reported that Russia was moving Tu-95MS strategic bombers across the country. raising concerns that Moscow could bepreparing another major strikeon Ukraine in the coming days.
Emergency services personnel work to extinguish a vehicle fire following a Russian drone attack in the Kyiv region. Ukraine, on May 5, 2026.(Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP)
Zelenskyy has said the war could end if Putin agrees to genuine peace talks, while accusing Moscow of prolonging the conflict. using negotiations as cover for continued attacks.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Efrat Lachter is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering international affairs and the United Nations. Follow her on X @efratlachter. Stories can be sent toefrat.lachter@fox.com.
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