Zelenskyi confirms strike on Moscow oil refinery carried out by Ukrainian drones

16.06.2026, 15:38 rubryka.com

Zelenskyi described the strike as a "just response" to Russian attacks and its continued prolongation of the war.

"This time, Ukraine's long-range capabilities were felt in the Moscow region. An oil refinery located 500 kilometers away was hit. I thank the warriors of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Special Operations Forces, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR), and the Missile Forces for their effective work," the president wrote.

Meanwhile, Robert Brovdi ("Madyar"), Commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, also stated that Moscow was targeted by drones from the 1st Separate Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces, operating jointly with units of the SBU, HUR, and other components of Ukraine's Defence Forces. He accompanied his statement with a photograph.

Recall that on the morning of June 16, Telegram channels reported drones flying over the Moscow region. Later, reports emerged online that the largest oil refinery in the Russian capital — the Moscow Oil Refinery — had been struck.

The facility supplies up to 40% of Moscow's fuel market and covers approximately 70% of the gasoline demand of both the Russian capital and the surrounding Moscow region. The refinery is located about 15 kilometers from the Kremlin.

Prior to that, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported a drone attack on the city.

"Over the past day, Moscow has been under attack by enemy drones. One of the drones damaged a facility at the Moscow Oil Refinery (MOR). There were no casualties. Emergency services are working at the scene," he said.

Russian authorities did not specify how many drones reached their targets or how many were not intercepted by air defense systems.

According to Astra, eyewitnesses reported air defense systems operating in the towns of Pavlovsky Posad, Ramenskoye, and Zhukovsky in the Moscow region.

Later, the Telegram channel Exilenova+ published photos and videos showing a fire on the grounds of the Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district of Moscow.

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) also reported temporary flight restrictions at several airports:

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that between 20:00 on June 15 and 07:00 on June 16, Russian air defense forces had allegedly destroyed 172 drones over regions of Russia and Russian-occupied territories.

Reference

The Moscow Oil Refinery (Gazprom Neft Moscow Refinery JSC) is the largest oil-processing facility in the Moscow region. Located in the Kapotnya district, it supplies more than one-third of Moscow's fuel demand.

The refinery provides aviation fuel to the capital's airports and produces around 30 different petroleum products.

Its annual processing capacity exceeds 11-12 million tonnes of crude oil. The plant manufactures gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation kerosene, marine fuel, road bitumen, and other petroleum products.

Previously, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi confirmed that fighters of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) had struck an oil facility in Russia's Yaroslavl region, located more than 700 kilometers from Ukraine's state border, as well as the Azot chemical plant in Russia's Tula region, which was targeted by Ukraine's Defense Forces.