Ukraine sent hundreds of drones toward Moscow on June 18, marking the largest aerial assault on the Russian capital since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The attack damaged buildings, sparked fires at a major oil refinery, and forced airports to suspend operations.
The primary target was the Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district, a facility that supplies a significant share of fuel to the capital region. The refinery had already been hit just two days earlier, on June 16, and this follow-up strike reportedly cut its operational capacity in half. One of Moscow’s most important fuel nodes is now running at roughly 50% output.
What happened on the ground
Russian defense officials claimed their air defenses intercepted the majority of incoming drones, with various estimates placing the number of downed aircraft between 50 and 194. Fires broke out at the refinery, structural damage was reported across multiple areas, and debris from intercepted drones fell onto residential neighborhoods and at least one shopping center. No fatalities were reported in initial coverage, though injuries did occur as wreckage rained down on populated zones.
Airports in the Moscow region suspended operations during the attack, and local roads were closed as emergency services responded.
