Fire erupts at Moscow refinery after reported drone strike; Ukraine claims responsibility
A fire broke out at the Kapotnya oil refinery in southeast Moscow on Tuesday, according to Russian authorities, who described it as the result of a Ukrainian drone strike. This marked the third such incident at the facility within a month and the second this week.
Videos circulating on social media, verified by news agencies, showed a large explosion sending the lid of an oil storage tank dozens of metres into the air, followed by thick black smoke billowing across the sky. Russian emergency services said they were battling the blaze and that no casualties had been reported so far.
Ukrainian officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed responsibility for the strike, stating it was part of a series of coordinated attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. The attack is believed to be the largest drone operation targeting Moscow since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Kapotnya refinery, operated by Gazprom Neft, has been a recurring target. Prior strikes on the facility on 1 September and again earlier this week had caused only minor damage, according to Russian sources. The latest incident appears to have caused more significant structural damage.
Russia's Defence Ministry said it had intercepted several drones over the Moscow region, but debris from one of them fell onto the refinery premises, igniting the fire. The ministry did not provide further details on the number of drones involved or the extent of the damage.
The attack comes amid escalating hostilities between the two countries, with Ukraine intensifying its long-range drone strikes on Russian soil in recent months. Moscow has repeatedly condemned such strikes as acts of terrorism, while Ukraine frames them as legitimate military targets supporting its defence efforts.
International observers have called for de-escalation, warning that attacks on energy infrastructure could worsen the humanitarian situation. The United Nations has not yet commented on Tuesday's incident.
As the fire continues to burn, residents in nearby areas have been advised to keep windows closed and stay indoors. Air quality monitoring stations in southeast Moscow have reported elevated pollution levels.
