Key facts
- Ukraine conducted a drone strike on the Moscow Oil Refinery on June 16.
- The strike halted operations at the refinery and caused a fire in an oil processing unit.
- President Zelensky described the attack as a 'just response' to Russian strikes.
- Moscow reported destroying 25 drones, with one damaging the refinery.
- The refinery is a key supplier of fuel to Moscow and its airports.
Ukraine struck the Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district on June 16, halting its operations and causing a fire in one of its oil processing units. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the strike, describing it as a "just response" to Russian attacks and a means to pressure Russia to end the war.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that 25 drones were "destroyed" over the city, with one damaging a facility at the refinery. He stated there were no casualties and that emergency services were on site. According to Russian industry sources cited by Reuters, the strike completely halted the refinery's operations, though a second, undamaged unit was expected to be brought back online soon. The refinery is a key supplier of fuel to Moscow and its four major airports, with a processing capacity of over 12 million tonnes of crude oil annually.
In parallel, President Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. During the meeting, Zelensky showed Trump photographs of damage to Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, which reportedly moved Trump. The leaders later participated in a joint working session focused on Russia's war against Ukraine, where air defense support was discussed.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced the creation of new unmanned systems units to bolster defenses along the country's northern border. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko apologized to Zelensky for past remarks and asserted that Belarus poses no military threat to Ukraine. In defense industry news, Ukrainian Armor and Czech company AviaNera Technologies signed a partnership to produce engines for Ukrainian missiles and drones. Separately, Poland's Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk explained that the transfer of additional MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine is delayed pending resolution of negotiations over Ukrainian military technology transfer to Poland. In maritime news, a Russian Navy frigate reportedly fired warning shots at a yacht in the English Channel.