Key facts
- President Zelensky approved new long-range operations and expanded deep strike capabilities on September 19.
- Ukraine launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on September 20, targeting the Gazpromneft-Moscow Oil Refinery.
- The Moscow Oil Refinery, one of Russia's largest with a capacity of 12 million tons annually, was hit and damaged.
- The refinery supplies 40% of Moscow's fuel market.
- Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps liberated 40 square kilometers of territory in Donetsk Oblast, including Shandryholove and Derylove.
- The US Army awarded a $10.6 million contract for Ukrainian Raybird drones.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on September 19 that he had approved new long-range operations in response to Russian strikes, aiming to expand Ukraine's deep strike capabilities. This announcement followed briefings from Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara and Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, which also covered updates on medical forces and foreign fighter recruitment.
Zelensky has previously described such deep strikes as "long-range sanctions" against Moscow and stated in July that Ukraine was capable of striking targets more than 3,000 kilometers inside Russia. These operations target Russian oil facilities, military infrastructure, logistics hubs, and weapons production sites.
On September 20, Ukraine launched a significant drone and missile attack that resulted in a large blaze at the Gazpromneft-Moscow Oil Refinery. The General Staff confirmed the attack targeted the AVT-6 primary refining unit, the integrated oil refining unit, and the isomerization unit, causing damage. The refinery is one of Russia's largest, supplying 40% of Moscow's fuel market.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed over 1,600 drones were intercepted across Russia, with 450 aimed at Moscow, though these figures could not be independently verified. Zelensky mentioned the use of domestically produced weapons systems, including the Flamingo cruise missile and a drone identified as Pelican. The attack occurred on the final day of Russia's three-day State Duma elections.
In a separate development, Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps announced on September 20 that it had liberated an additional 40 square kilometers of territory in Donetsk Oblast as part of Operation Vivaldi, retaking villages including Shandryholove and Derylove. This offensive, focused around Lyman, has reportedly pushed Russian forces back to the Zherebets River.