NEW DELHI: Thick black smoke blanketed Moscow’s skyline, reports of black rain surfaced across parts of the Russian capital and flights were temporarily grounded after Ukraine struck a key oil refinery during its largest drone offensive against Moscow in months. The attack, part of Kyiv’s campaign targeting Russia’s capital and energy infrastructure, prompted fresh Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities including Sumy and Kharkiv, killing two people and injuring several others.The Ukrainian strikes, which targeted Moscow and a key oil refinery supplying fuel to the Russian capital, came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Europe meeting G7 leaders and seeking additional military and diplomatic support. The attacks also unfolded in the backdrop of the recently concluded US-Iran peace agreement, which was digitally signed while US President Donald Trump and other world leaders were in France.As Ukraine expanded its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and the capital region, Russia responded with fresh strikes across Ukraine. According to Ukrainian officials, two people were killed and two others wounded in attacks on the northeastern Sumy region, while five more people, including three children, required medical assistance after Russian strikes on Kharkiv. The latest exchange of attacks highlights the intensifying tit-for-tat nature of the conflict, even as diplomatic efforts continue on the sidelines of major international gatherings.
Moscow refinery hit again as Ukraine expands drone war
Ukraine struck the Moscow Oil Refinery for the second time in a week on June 19, according to Russian officials, in what was one of Kyiv’s largest drone attacks since Russia launched its full-scale invasion more than four years ago.The refinery, located around 15 kilometres from the Kremlin, is one of Russia’s largest fuel-processing facilities and produces more than a third of the Moscow region’s fuel supply.The attack disrupted operations at four Moscow airports and forced authorities to temporarily halt flights. Russian officials said air defences intercepted hundreds of incoming drones, but several targets were still hit.Ukraine has increasingly focused on Russian oil facilities in an effort to reduce Moscow’s war revenues and demonstrate that the consequences of the conflict can also be felt inside Russia.The strike came shortly after Zelenskyy announced he had held “an important coordination call” with the presidents of the United States and France and secured additional support from allies during the G7 summit.“If Ukraine is going to burn, your Moscow will burn too,” Zelenskyy said.“It is time to end the aggression, time to end this war.”
Black rain falls on Moscow: Oil-covered droplets reported as smoke blankets Russian capital
Among the most striking images emerging from Moscow were reports of so-called “black rain” falling over parts of the city following the refinery fire.According to a BBC report, residents in southeastern districts of Moscow complained that fine droplets carrying black oily particles had fallen on vehicles and clothing after the attack.Columns of thick smoke rose high above the Russian capital while emergency services struggled to contain the blaze.Residents told the BBC that the drizzle left “unpleasant black spots” on clothes and vehicles.Although Moscow authorities denied reports that oil rain had fallen, the city’s official Telegram channel urged residents in affected districts to keep their windows closed. Authorities also advised families with children, elderly residents and people suffering from respiratory illnesses to leave the area temporarily.Videos circulating on social media showed massive flames rising from refinery structures, while one clip appeared to show the lid of a large oil storage tank being blown into the air following an explosion.The scenes represented one of the most visible examples of the war reaching Russia’s capital since the invasion began.
Ukrainian officials say Moscow is experiencing consequences of war
Ukrainian officials openly linked the attacks to Russia’s continued military campaign.“One of the most popular questions asked by Muscovites this morning is What is going on?” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X.“I can answer. Your country started a war of aggression against ours. For years, it has been killing our people. Now that you know what’s going on, ask Putin when he is planning to end it.”Ukraine has repeatedly argued that targeting Russian military, logistics and energy infrastructure is necessary to weaken Moscow’s war machine and force the Kremlin towards negotiations.Zelenskyy said the latest drone offensive was partly intended to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to return to meaningful peace talks.“If Putin does not want to end this war and wants to continue it, we will not sit quietly — we will respond,” Zelenskyy said.The Ukrainian leader has backed an unconditional ceasefire proposal promoted by Trump, while Kyiv maintains that Moscow has rejected such efforts.
Russia claims hundreds of drones intercepted
The Russian Defence Ministry said air defence systems intercepted 555 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions overnight, including nearly 200 that were approaching Moscow.Russian officials said the attack also damaged residential buildings in the Moscow region.According to regional governor Andrei Vorobyov, a drone struck a residential building in Zhukovsky while debris from intercepted drones damaged other structures.At least 17 people, including two children, were injured.Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the refinery fire had been “largely contained” and emergency services were working to extinguish remaining hotspots.Russian authorities insisted fuel supplies remained stable despite concerns about shortages in some regions.Authorities said “supplies of oil products to Moscow and the work of all gas stations in the city continue as normal.”However, Russian independent outlet Agentstvo reported that fuel-purchase restrictions had been introduced at approximately one-quarter of petrol stations across the country.
Russia retaliates with strikes across Ukraine
As Ukraine expanded its attacks inside Russia, Moscow launched fresh strikes on Ukrainian cities and regions.According to Reuters, two people were killed and two others wounded after Russia struck Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region with bombs, drones and missiles.Ukraine’s police said the attacks targeted civilian areas and infrastructure.In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said another five people, including three children, required medical assistance after Russian bombing raids.The strikes followed earlier Russian attacks that killed civilians in Sumy and Dnipro and underscored the continuing intensity of the conflict despite diplomatic efforts.
Drone attack reported at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Russia also reported a major drone attack on facilities at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, which remains under Russian control.According to the Russian-installed management of the plant, at least 14 drone strikes hit a transport workshop overnight between June 18 and June 19.A fire broke out in part of the facility and several buildings sustained damage.The plant’s management said there were no casualties but warned that the full extent of the damage could not yet be determined because of the continuing threat of additional drone attacks.
G7 support boosts Kyiv’s confidence
The latest Ukrainian attacks coincided with Zelenskyy’s diplomatic engagements in Europe.The Ukrainian president travelled to Brussels for discussions with NATO and European Union leaders, including talks on a possible continent-wide ballistic missile defence network.French President Emmanuel Macron described the recent G7 summit as “very important for Ukraine” and stressed continued Western backing for Kyiv.“America is with us on Ukraine, that is very important,” Macron said.Western officials and analysts increasingly view Ukraine’s long-range drone programme as one of Kyiv’s most effective tools for offsetting Russia’s numerical advantages on the battlefield.By targeting refineries, fuel depots, logistics hubs and military facilities hundreds of kilometres from the front line, Ukraine has sought to disrupt supply chains and impose economic costs on Moscow.The attacks this week suggest Kyiv is prepared to intensify that strategy, even as diplomatic efforts continue. With black smoke hanging over Moscow and Russian missiles again striking Ukrainian cities, the war has entered another phase in which both sides are increasingly taking the battle far beyond the traditional front lines.