Ukrainian Kamikaze Drones Strike Moscow-Area Refinery, Cutting 70% of Capital's Fuel Supply
A Ukrainian drone strike on Tuesday ignited a major fire at the largest fuel supplier serving the Moscow region, forcing the refinery to halt operations. According to two industry sources cited by Reuters, the attack disrupted approximately 70% of Moscow's fuel supply. The Moscow mayor has responded publicly, though no timeline for resumed operations has been given.
Highlights
- A Ukrainian kamikaze drone strike on June 17, 2026 set the Moscow region's largest fuel refinery ablaze and forced a full halt to operations.
- Two industry sources told Reuters the attack cut approximately 70% of Moscow's total fuel supply.
- Moscow's mayor issued a public statement but provided no details on alternative fuel arrangements or a restart timeline.
- The strike is among Ukraine's deepest long-range drone attacks inside Russia, reflecting significantly improved UAV range and precision.
- Energy analysts warn that prolonged refinery downtime could trigger cascading fuel price increases across Russia's domestic market.
Ukraine launched a drone strike against a critical energy facility inside Russia on Tuesday, triggering a large fire at the Moscow region's largest fuel supplier and forcing the refinery to shut down entirely — dealing a significant blow to the Russian capital's energy supply chain.
The Attack
According to two industry sources who spoke to Reuters, the targeted refinery is the largest fuel supply facility serving the Moscow region. Ukrainian forces used so-called kamikaze drones — single-use, one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles — to conduct a precision strike on the plant, setting off a large-scale fire and compelling operators to suspend all production.
The sources indicated that the attack disrupted as much as 70% of the Moscow region's fuel supply, placing significant strain on the capital's logistics networks, transportation systems, and civilian fuel needs.
Moscow Mayor Responds
Moscow's mayor issued a public statement in response to the incident. However, authorities have yet to detail any alternative supply arrangements or provide an estimated timeline for when the refinery might resume operations.
Strategic Significance
Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukraine has progressively expanded its drone campaign against energy infrastructure inside Russia, with targets including refineries, fuel storage depots, and power generation facilities. The strikes are intended to degrade Russia's war logistics and rear-area supply capabilities.
This latest attack on a refinery near Moscow is considered one of Ukraine's most ambitious long-range drone strikes to date, demonstrating a marked improvement in the range and precision of Ukrainian unmanned aerial systems.
Energy analysts warn that if the refinery remains offline for an extended period, cascading effects on Russia's domestic fuel market are likely, potentially driving fuel prices higher.
Sources: Reuters, Global Defense Corp. Reported on June 17, 2026.
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