The attack hit the refinery in the Kapotnya district, which belongs to the Gazpromneft energy group and processes up to 11 million tons of crude oil per year. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that several drones managed to reach the facility despite air defenses. Videos circulating on social media show explosions and towering plumes of smoke.
Officially, the Russian side said more than 190 drones were shot down. Still, some reached their target. The independent portal “Astra” identified several fire sources based on video analysis. There was no immediate information on the exact extent of the damage. No reports of casualties were available.
The attack paralyzed air traffic in Moscow: all four airports in the capital temporarily halted operations. Residential buildings were damaged. The strikes, about 15 kilometers from the Kremlin, are seen by observers as a sensitive blow to the image of the Russian leadership, as Moscow had long been considered relatively well protected.
In May, a drone had already damaged a residential building in Moscow.
Source: www.handelsblatt.com
