A significant oil refinery in Moscow, which serves as a primary fuel supplier to the Moscow region, has ceased operations following a drone strike on June 16. The attack targeted a facility owned by Gazprom Neft in the southeastern part of the city, damaging a primary processing unit responsible for over half of the refinery’s output.
Witnesses captured footage verified by Reuters showing intense flames and thick black smoke rising from the site after the strike. Local emergency services reported that the fire had been extinguished and claimed it would not affect the refinery’s operations; however, anonymous sources contradicted this assertion.
Moscow’s Mayor Sergey Sobyanin acknowledged that the facility had sustained damage but did not provide further details. Gazprom Neft has not responded to requests for comment from the agency.
Since the beginning of 2026, Ukraine has reportedly increased its attacks on Russian oil refineries, resulting in significant disruptions to oil processing and a decline in the production of gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel. This strategy is intensifying pressure on Russia’s domestic fuel market.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that the primary oil processing unit, ELOU AVT-6, at the Moscow refinery was hit during the attack.
Earlier in the day, local authorities reported a fire at the refinery located in the Kapotnya area of southeastern Moscow, with numerous videos shared by Ukrainian monitoring channels showing the blaze, including footage of the drone strike.
Ukrainian military forces have consistently targeted Russian oil industry facilities. In late May, Reuters noted that nearly all major refineries in central Russia had been forced to halt or reduce production due to drone attacks.
Residents in regions such as Belgorod, Ryazan, and Krasnodar have previously reported shortages of gasoline and diesel at gas stations, leading to restrictions on fuel sales in various areas, including limits on gasoline purchases at major gas station networks in Moscow.
A drone attack on a major oil refinery in Moscow has led to its shutdown, impacting fuel production in the region. The strike, which damaged a key processing unit, is part of a broader pattern of increased Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities.
Source: Reuters