Ukraine hits Moscow oil refinery in one of the largest drone attacks since the start of the war

Cover image: Thick plumes of smoke with flames rise from an oil refinery in Moscow, Russia, June 18, 2026 in this screengrab taken from a social media video. © Social media via Reuters

Smoke rose over Moscow Thursday morning after Ukraine launched its largest drone attack in years, hitting the Moscow oil refinery and sparking fires in and around the capital. The attack on the refinery was a "justified response" to Russian strikes in Ukraine, said President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine on Thursday launched its largest drone attack on Moscow in years, sparking fires in and around the capital, hitting a major oil refinery and forcing evacuations at the country's largest airport, officials said.