Ukraine targeted an oil refinery in Moscow for the second time this week on Thursday, according to Russian authorities, in what appears to be one of the latest escalations in the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
Videos circulating on social media showed black smoke and flames rising from the area of the reported strike. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later acknowledged the operation, describing it as a response to recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
In a post on X, Zelensky said the strike was a "fully justified response" to Russian attacks on Ukrainian communities and claimed it targeted facilities that support Russia's military operations. He also reiterated calls for an end to the war, urging Russia to return to dialogue and diplomatic efforts.
Russian officials said their air defence systems intercepted a large number of Ukrainian drones during the attack. Authorities reported that at least 555 drones were shot down across multiple regions, while around 200 were intercepted as they approached Moscow.
The scale of the attack prompted significant disruptions to air travel. Russia's transport ministry announced the temporary suspension of flights at all four major Moscow airports — Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky. Authorities did not immediately specify when normal operations would resume.
The latest strike comes at a sensitive diplomatic moment for Moscow. The attack occurred just hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin was scheduled to host leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the city of Kazan.
Prime ministers from Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore were expected to attend the summit, while the Philippines was represented by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Speaking at a reception ahead of the meeting, Putin emphasized cooperation between Russia and ASEAN nations, stating that they support a "just world order" and the principles of state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.
The two-day summit is part of Russia's broader efforts to strengthen economic partnerships and regional ties as it continues to face international pressure and economic challenges linked to the war in Ukraine. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, now in its fourth year, has increasingly featured long-range drone attacks by both sides. While Ukraine has intensified strikes on military and energy-related infrastructure inside Russia, Moscow continues to carry out aerial attacks on targets across Ukraine.
Neither side's claims regarding the extent of damage or the effectiveness of the attacks could be independently verified at the time of reporting.
Sources: Hindustan Times
