Ukraine Strikes Moscow Oil Refinery in Major Drone Attack

Large-Scale Drone and Missile Attack Reported

Ukrainian forces carried out a major long-range drone and missile operation against targets in Moscow and the surrounding region on the night of September 19–20, 2026, according to Ukrainian and Russian officials.The attack included a strike on the Gazpromneft-Moscow Oil Refinery in Moscow's Kapotnya district. Ukrainian authorities said the refinery was hit and that several processing units were damaged.

Fire Reported at Moscow Oil Refinery

Ukraine's General Staff said the attack damaged the refinery's AVT-6 primary processing unit, another integrated processing unit and an isomerization unit.The Institute for the Study of War reported that geolocated footage showed a major fire at the facility. The refinery has an annual processing capacity of about 12 million tonnes of crude oil, making it an important part of Moscow's fuel supply network.

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Russia Reports More Than 1,600 Drones Intercepted

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defenses had intercepted or destroyed more than 1,600 Ukrainian drones across Russia since September 19, including about 450 approaching Moscow.The figure has not been independently verified, but the Institute for the Study of War described the reported operation as the largest combined Ukrainian missile and drone strike package against strategic targets in Moscow Oblast since the beginning of the full-scale war.

Casualties and Damage Reported

Russian authorities reported deaths and injuries in the Moscow region following the attacks. Reuters reported three fatalities and damage to residential infrastructure, while authorities also reported evacuations in the Ramenskoye district after drone-related damage.The reported casualties and damage come amid a broader campaign in which both Russia and Ukraine have increasingly targeted infrastructure far from the front lines.

Zelenskyy Highlights Ukrainian Long-Range Weapons

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the operation had a significant impact in the Moscow region and credited Ukrainian security and defense organizations.The Institute for the Study of War reported that Zelenskyy listed several Ukrainian long-range systems used in the operation, including FP-1 drones and Flamingo cruise missiles. Reporting about the weapon referred to as “Pelican” has been less clear, with different sources describing it differently. ISW said it could not independently verify whether an FP-7 ballistic missile was used.

Impact on Russia's Energy Infrastructure

The Moscow refinery is one of Russia's major oil-processing facilities. The reported damage could affect refinery operations and fuel distribution, although the full operational impact remains subject to further assessment.The attack also comes amid continuing international attention on Russian and Ukrainian strikes against energy infrastructure and their potential effects on fuel markets. Reuters reported that the refinery processed about 11.6 million metric tonnes of oil in 2024.

Attack Comes During Russia's Parliamentary Election

The large-scale attack took place on the final day of Russia's parliamentary elections.Russian officials said the strikes disrupted transport and caused damage in several areas, while Ukrainian officials presented the operation as part of their long-range campaign against Russian military and energy infrastructure. The competing accounts highlight the wider strategic importance of the strikes beyond the immediate damage.