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Ukrainian Drones Breach Four Layers of Moscow Air Defenses to Strike Refinery Near Kremlin
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian long-range drones struck the Moscow Oil Refinery overnight on June 16, reaching a facility located about 15 kilometers from the Kremlin despite several concentric layers of Russian air defenses protecting the Russian capital.
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According to Defense Express, the attack targeted the Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district. Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces said the operation was conducted in coordination with the Special Operations Forces, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
This time, the Moscow region felt the reach of Ukraine’s long-range capabilities. An oil refinery was hit at a distance of 500 kilometers. I thank the warriors of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Special Operations Forces, the Defense Intelligence… pic.twitter.com/TayWYZYjEI
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 16, 2026
The refinery is one of the largest fuel-processing facilities serving Moscow. According to Defense Express, it has a processing capacity of up to 11 million tons of oil annually and supplies a significant share of the city’s gasoline, diesel fuel, and aviation fuel demand.
Defense Express reported that drones approaching the target would have had to penetrate several defensive rings deployed around Moscow.
Open-source mapping cited by the outlet indicates the Russian capital is protected by at least three established air-defense belts, largely consisting of Pantsir air-defense systems positioned on towers and elevated structures. A fourth outer defensive ring is reportedly under development.
The refinery itself was additionally protected by anti-drone netting designed to reduce the effectiveness of unmanned aerial attacks. Videos published by local residents and referenced by the outlet showed a fire at the facility following the strike.
The extent of the damage has not been independently verified, and Russian authorities had not released a detailed assessment of the refinery’s condition at the time of publication.
The June 16 strike was not the first reported Ukrainian attack on the Moscow Oil Refinery. According to Defense Express, the facility was also targeted in September 2024, March 2025, and May 2026.
Earlier, Russia expanded Moscow’s air defense network by creating a new division reportedly equipped with S-500 Prometey systems. Despite the additional defenses, Ukrainian long-range drones have continued to reach targets in and around the Russian capital.
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