Vladimir Putin faced a significant setback when a massive drone attack targeted the primary oil refinery in Moscow, leading to the closure of the city’s main airports. The Kapotnya Oil Refinery, located just ten miles from the Kremlin, was engulfed in flames, causing smoke to spread across the city as drones breached enhanced air defenses in the Russian capital. This incident coincided with the G7 summit in France.
The drone strike dealt a severe blow to the Kremlin, coinciding with ongoing attacks on oil installations in Ukraine that are impacting the Russian economy and raising doubts about Putin’s control over Crimea. As a result of the attack, flights were halted at all major Moscow airports, including Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky, causing travel disruptions.
The use of drones in the morning assault marked one of the most significant attacks on Moscow in the four-year conflict. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed that Putin had rejected a peace proposal from Ukraine, despite efforts to facilitate discussions at the G7 summit.
Moscow’s Mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, an ally of Putin, reported that approximately 60 drones were intercepted, but acknowledged damage to the refinery with no casualties. The strike, following a Russian military operation in Kyiv, targeted the Kapotnya refinery, a crucial supplier of fuel to Moscow and its surrounding areas, despite recent enhancements to the city’s air defenses.
Despite being one of the world’s top oil producers, Russia is facing fuel shortages and rationing in over 25 regions due to continuous attacks on its oil infrastructure by Ukraine. The impact of these strikes is starting to cripple the Russian economy, with disruptions to fuel supplies reaching Crimea and other occupied territories.
As a video captured a Russian military fuel truck being attacked, affecting oil supplies to Crimea, concerns have been raised by Siberian farmers about fuel shortages for the upcoming harvest. The conflict escalated as Russia conducted missile strikes and drone attacks on Ukraine, resulting in civilian casualties and further tensions in the region.
