Ukraine’s Zelenskyy defends Moscow oil refinery hit as just response

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian long-range strike systems were once again used against a target inside Russian territory, according to a post on his Telegram channel, which included a video.

“This time, Ukrainian long-range capabilities were felt in the Moscow region. An oil refinery was hit at a distance of 500 kilometres. I thank the warriors of the SBU, SBS, SSO, GUR, and missile forces for their effective work. Russia must be forced to end its war against our people. Ukrainian long-range weapons are an important component of such pressure. This is a just response to Russian strikes and a response to the prolongation of the war that must be ended,” he said.

The Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district was damaged by a Ukrainian drone strike on the morning of June 16, 2026.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that Russian air defences downed dozens of UAVs, with emergency services responding to debris impacts and a fire at the refinery facility; no casualties were reported.

The plant is the largest in the Moscow region, with a capacity exceeding 11 million tons of oil per year, supplying a significant portion of the capital's fuel needs, including gasoline, diesel, and aviation kerosene.

By Jeyhun Aghazada