Major Moscow oil refinery erupts in flames: Ukraine reveals strike damage
Photo: Russian firefighters putting out a fire (Getty Images)
On the night of September 20, the Ukrainian military struck the Gazpromneft-Moscow Refinery in Moscow. A large-scale fire was reported on the facility's grounds following the strike, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a facility in the Kapotnya district of Moscow.
A massive fire broke out on the refinery's grounds. As a result of the Russian strike, 3 production facilities were hit simultaneously.
Specifically, these were:
- AVT-6 primary refining unit
- Integrated oil refining unit
- Isomerization unit.
Thus, the strike directly targeted the facility's production capabilities.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) states that the strike on the Moscow oil refinery was carried out jointly with the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Special Operations Forces, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR), and other components of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
The SBU notes that long-range drones from the Alpha Special Operations Center flew over 500 km, penetrated Russia's layered air defense system, and struck the facility.
"A large-scale fire has been reported there," the SBU states.
According to the SBU, the Moscow oil refinery is located approximately 15 km from the Kremlin.
Moscow oil refinery
Gazpromneft-Moscow oil refinery is one of Russia's largest oil refineries. The plant is located in the Kapotnya district of Moscow.
The facility has the capacity to process about 12 million metric tons of crude oil per year. It produces automotive gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, fuel oil, and other petroleum products.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine notes that the refinery is involved in meeting the needs of the Russian armed forces.
On the night of September 20, a series of explosions and drone swarms flying in several directions were reported near Moscow. According to preliminary reports, a fire broke out at a warehouse complex in the village of Sofino.
Fire Point stated that its FP-1 strike drones had destroyed a warehouse complex in the Moscow region. According to preliminary information, the facilities belonged to the company Modern Warehouse Technologies.
In Moscow, this attack has already been called the largest ever. According to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, 450 drones were heading toward Moscow.
