--- title: "Moscow in Flames: Unprecedented Ukrainian Drone Attack and Fire at the Kapotnya Refinery" description: "Moscow and the region suffered the largest attack by Ukrainian drones in the entire war. πŸ”₯ The refinery in Kapotnya was hit, airports are closed, and the city is shrouded in smoke. Zelenskyy called this a just response to strikes on Ukraine. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦βœˆοΈ" date: 2026-06-18T06:56:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/moscow-in-flames-unprecedented-ukrainian-drone-attack-and-fire-at-the-kapotnya-refinery tags: [] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Moscow in Flames: Unprecedented Ukrainian Drone Attack and Fire at the Kapotnya Refinery ![Massive fire at the Kapotnya refinery with thick black smoke, aftermath of Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/18/moskva-v-ogne-massirovannaya-ataka-dronov-i-pozhar-na-npz/moskva-v-ogne-massirovannaya-ataka-dronov-i-pozhar-na-npz-1.webp) Thursday morning, June 18, became a time of unprecedented tension for Moscow and the Moscow region. The capital region suffered the largest attack by Ukrainian drones in the entire history of the war. A massive aerial battle raged over the city and the region, while fires broke out on the ground, enveloping the capital in thick black smoke. ### Scale of the Attack and Air Defense Operations Russian sources and social media channels report hundreds of targets that were struck. According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, as of 08:17 AM, approximately 180 drones had been shot down, although air defense systems continued to operate. Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov confirmed that at least five districts of the region were hit. Later, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed a more impressive figure, stating that 555 drones were allegedly shot down. However, visual evidence and witness reports on social networks paint a different picture: drones managed to penetrate the defense system, delivering pinpoint strikes on infrastructure. ### Fire at the Moscow Refinery One of the main targets of the attack was the Moscow Oil Refinery (NPPZ) in Kapotnya. The facility, owned by Gazprom Neft, is located just 15 km from the Kremlin and supplies about 40% of the capital's fuel market. In footage published by witnesses, the factory can be seen engulfed in flames, with powerful explosions tearing off the roofs of storage tanks. According to OSINT channels, at least five fire outbreaks occurred on the factory grounds. Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that several drones managed to reach their target. Thick plumes of black smoke rising over Kapotnya became the symbol of this attack and were visible from many parts of the city. ### Consequences for Infrastructure and the Population The attack paralyzed the life of the megacity. Due to the threat in the sky, authorities introduced the "Carpet" plan, which led to the closure of all four major Moscow airports: "Vnukovo", "Domodedovo", "Sheremetyevo", and "Zhukovsky". At "Sheremetyevo", passengers had to be evacuated directly from airplanes, while restrictions were introduced at "Vnukovo" around midnight. The city's transport system also suffered: the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD) was partially closed, and drivers were advised to find detours. In the city of Lyubertsy, an industrial zone and a fitness center building were hit, and a fire broke out on the roof of the "Belaya Dacha" shopping center. Authorities reported damage to a building on the territory of the "Sadovod" shopping center due to falling debris. ### Kyiv's Reaction Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called these strikes a "completely just response" to Russian shelling of Ukrainian cities. According to him, Ukrainian long-range weapons reached the Moscow region for the second time in a week, as well as hitting targets in the Rostov region and in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. "It is time to end this war, and Russia must take the necessary steps in diplomacy," emphasized the head of state, noting the high efficiency and accuracy of Ukrainian strikes, which are recognized even by allies. ### Witness Emotions On social networks, residents of Moscow and the region are sharing shocking footage and emotions. Video recordings show how drones, despite the fire of air defense, confidently fly towards their targets. One witness emotionally commented on the events: "All of Moscow is burning. Everything is burning. I'm getting out." Dozens of videos confirm the scale of destruction and fires, demonstrating the real cost of this large-scale operation.