Ukraine drone strike hits Moscow oil refinery, disrupts flights
Russian officials reported that Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack overnight on Thursday, June 18, 2026, striking a Moscow oil refinery for the second time in a week and temporarily halting flights at four Moscow airports. The attack is among the largest of its kind since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began more than four years ago.
The Russian Defence Ministry said its air defences intercepted 555 Ukrainian drones over multiple regions, with nearly 200 approaching the capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that several drones hit the Moscow Oil Refinery, located on the southeastern outskirts of the city.
The Russian Transport Ministry announced that flights from four Moscow airports were suspended as a precautionary measure. Details on the number of flights affected or any casualties were not immediately available.
The drone attack came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had held an important coordination call with U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, which he said could bring about significant change. Zelenskyy also noted that Ukraine had received commitments of additional support from world leaders attending the G7 summit in France.
Speaking to reporters at the Palace of Versailles, Macron said the past few days were important for Ukraine because they marked the reunification of the G7 around Ukraine. He stated that the group would continue to advance efforts to help Ukraine resist and build its capacity to defend itself and counterattack.
The attack occurred while Russian President Vladimir Putin was in Kazan, about 700 kilometres east of Moscow, hosting leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The two-day meeting aims to expand Russia's strategic partnership with ASEAN countries, which include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam, according to Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov.
The conflict, now in its fifth year, has seen periodic drone strikes on both sides, with attacks on energy infrastructure and other targets increasingly common. The latest incidents highlight the ongoing military and diplomatic dimensions of the war.
