The Russian capital was ablaze Thursday, after Ukraine launched what appeared to be its largest attack on the city since the Kremlin invaded its neighbor more than four years ago.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Waves of Ukrainian drones hit a major oil refinery in Moscow for the second time this week, sending thick clouds of black smoke and flames rising over the city through the morning.Local commercial flights were also disrupted.Kyiv cast the attack as revenge for strikes on a historic monastery that had drawn global condemnation.
It comes as President Donald Trump signals renewed engagement with the conflict, boosting European hopes that he may back tougher action against Russia to try and force it to the negotiation table.A video geolocated by NBC News showed a drone flying into a plume of smoke over the Kapotnya refinery, which is in the southeast of Moscow and just 10 miles away from the Kremlin.The facility is seen already engulfed in flames, as air defense rockets are fired at the drone before it crashes on site, throwing up a ball of fire.
Ukraine has been striking oil facilities deep inside Russia after a leap in drone capabilities, an intensifying campaign that Kyiv’s allies say has given the country “new momentum” in the war.It has led to widespread damage to energy infrastructure, helping to spark a fuel crisis centered in occupied Crimea.Moscow came under one of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks since the start of the war on Thursday.Sefa Karacan / Anadolu via Getty ImagesSuccessful attacks on Moscow remain rare, however, with the capital protected by layers of air defense.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 190 drones have been shot down on approach to Moscow overnight, with several reaching the oil refinery.State news agency Tass called it “the most massive drone attack on the Moscow region in two years.” The capital’s major airports went into temporary shutdown...