Moscow under drone attack as refinery burns and thick smoke rises over city
The mayor of Moscow confirmed the attack on the oil refinery (Photo: t.me/mchs_official)
On the morning of Thursday, June 18, unknown drones are attacking Moscow en masse. Russians are complaining about drones flying overhead, sounds of explosions, and a fire at an oil refinery, according to Russian Telegram channels.
Starting from 4 a.m., footage began circulating on various public channels showing drones flying over Moscow and the Moscow region.
Literally 40 minutes later, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin began reporting on the alleged shooting down of drones heading toward the Russian capital. As of 5:43 a.m., there were already 33 such unmanned aerial vehicles.
At the same time, and at least until 6 a.m., more and more new footage of drones continued to appear online. In addition, columns of smoke and fires were recorded on the outskirts of Moscow and beyond.
The mayor of Moscow confirmed the attack on the oil refinery (Photo: https://t.me/exilenova_plus)
The mayor of Moscow confirmed the attack on the oil refinery (Photo: https://t.me/exilenova_plus)
The mayor of Moscow confirmed the attack on the oil refinery (Photo: https://t.me/exilenova_plus)
Moscow under drone attack as refinery burns and thick smoke rises over the cityhttps://t.co/l4MrD9ithb pic.twitter.com/HYeK5NoteN
— RBC-Ukraine (@NewsUkraineRBC) June 18, 2026
According to OSINT channels, one of the strikes was carried out against an oil refinery in Kapotnya (a district on the outskirts of Moscow). After the strike, a large fire broke out near the facility, with at least two tanks burning.
The mayor of Moscow confirmed the attack on the oil refinery (Photo: https://t.me/exilenova_plus)
The mayor of Moscow confirmed the attack on the oil refinery (Photo: https://t.me/exilenova_plus)
Footage also appeared online showing that some buildings in the city had been damaged.
Mayor Sobyanin reported that drone debris fell on the territory of the Sadovod shopping center, causing minor damage to one of the buildings. However, he remained silent about the attack on the oil refinery.
Sobyanin officially acknowledged that an oil refinery in Moscow had been attacked.
"Air defense forces continue to repel a massive attack. Several drones managed to reach the Moscow Oil Refinery. Measures are being taken to eliminate the consequences," he wrote.
Attack on the Moscow Oil Refinery
On June 16, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that Ukrainian drones had attacked the Moscow Oil Refinery overnight, causing a fire. Preliminary reports indicated damage to the primary oil refining unit ELOU AVT-6.
Shortly after, Reuters reported that the Ukrainian strike on the Moscow oil refinery had caused the facility to halt operations.
