Ukrainian Drones Strike Moscow Oil Refinery for Second Time in Three Days

Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Moscow last week, the second such attack in three days, The Independent reported. The explosion sent the disc-shaped lid of an oil storage tank flying above the city on black smoke and flame. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence stated in 2022 that it could hit targets 630 km away.

It now says its long-range weapons reach targets about 1,750 km away. Iranian-made Shahed drones can travel up to 2,000 km carrying a 50 kg warhead, and Russia possessed such drones as early as summer 2022. Fire Point manufactures the FP-1 attack drone and the Flamingo cruise missile.

The company is planning to develop a European missile defence system. The Pentagon is considering buying Ukrainian drones and electronic warfare systems. Analysts estimate more than a fifth of Russia’s total refining capacity has been knocked offline.

The International Energy Agency reported that Russian crude oil production dropped around 5 per cent year-on-year last month to 8.7 million barrels per day. The IEA stated in its June report that the level of disruption is unprecedented in the history of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Grégoire Roos stated the drone attack on the Moscow refinery last week was the most interesting development over the past year.

Energy revenues account for around 23 per cent of Russia’s federal budget and about 20 per cent of GDP. Russia’s revenues from oil, gas, coal and refined product exports totalled 193 billion euros in the 12-month period ending 24 February 2026, 27 per cent lower than the comparable pre-invasion period.

Gasoline in Russia cost around $0.65 per litre just before the invasion and $0.95 per litre in May 2026.