The goal of a Ukrainian attack with drones became Moscow's main oil refinery, causing a fire in the facilities and temporary suspension of the operation of the four main airports of the Russian capital. The incident occurred while Ukraine's president, Volontim Zelenski, participated in the G7 summit in France.
According to Russian and Ukrainian sources, Ukrainian drones managed to reach Capotnia Refinery, located about 16 km from the Kremlin. Videos and photos released on social media showed flames and dense smoke rising from the area.
The attack caused serious disruption in air transport, as authorities temporarily suspended the operation of Domontedovo, Seremetjevo, Vnukovo and Zukowski airports.
Ukrainian drone strikes on Tuesday morning hit the Kapotnya oil refining located on the outskirts of Moscow.
The attack built fire at the facility.
The Kapotnya refinery is situated abroximately 15km from the center of the Russian capital.
At least one Ukrainian Lyutui... pic.twitter. Com/CVUKdU8NH5— Status-6 (War & Military News) (@Archer83Able) June 16, 2026
Moscow mayor, Sergei Sobianin, said Russian air defense forces shot down at least 60 Ukrainian drones, but confirmed that there was damage to the refinery facilities. "In the last 24 hours enemy drones have continued to attack Moscow. One of them caused damage to a Moscow Refinery facility. There were no victims and emergency services work on the spot," he said.
The blow is considered particularly important as the Capotnia refinery covers up to 40% of the Moscow fuel market and about 70% of the capital and wider gas needs.
The moment of the drone strike on the Moscow oil refining in Kapotnya.
That's about 15 kilometers from the Kremlin.
OSINT researchers suppose key equipment of the refinery might have been a hit. https://t.co/JvC62qiZxW pic.twitter. com/aYPhV9ztOW— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko en) June 16, 2026
Damage to buildings, despite the shootingsDespite recent actions to strengthen anti-aircraft defence around Moscow, Ukrainian drones have managed to penetrate protection systems and reach one of Russia's most guarded energy targets.
At the same time, damage to buildings in the Moscow area was reported. According to authorities, parts of destroyed drones hit an apartment building in Electrostal, while another drone crashed into an under construction building in the Cotelniqi area.
Moscow's Most Protected Refinery is on fire. Kapotnya sits within a kill zone of Hundreds of Russian air defense systems. A drone got through anyway.
Gazpromneft's plant in Moscow's southeast - the largest restoration in the Russian capital - is building today. Russia built layers... pic.twitter. com/LT7OSsqGTa— Meanwheele in Ukraine (@MeanwheeleINUA) June 16, 2026
Ukrainian forces are also alleged to have hit a large fuel storage facility in the village of Poltava, Krasnodar district, about 380 km from the front line, as well as the Palkino pumping station in the Baltic pipeline system, in Yaroslavl district, north of Moscow.
The attacks on energy infrastructure have intensified in recent months, with Kiev seeking to harm the Russian fuel supply chain and increase the economic cost of the war for Moscow.
From France, where he participated in the G7 summit, Ukraine's president, Volontim Zelensky, publicly thanked Ukrainian armed forces and security services for the operation.
"I thank the militants of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Special Operations Forces, the Military Intelligence Agency and the Missile Forces for their effective action," he said.
Zelenski argued that "Russia should be forced to end the war against the Ukrainian people" and described Ukraine's long-range weapons as a key element of this strategic pressure.
At the same time, the Ukrainian president accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of rejecting a new Ukrainian proposal for peace talks. "We suggested that Putin meet wherever real decisions could be made to end the war. He does not want it," Zelenski said, adding that a meeting was even discussed on the margins of the G7 session.
At the same time, Russia launched a new night attack on Ukraine with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 132 drones. According to Ukrainian authorities, eight people were injured following a blow in a residential area of the city of Balakliya in the district of Harkov.