Ukrainian Drones Breach Moscow's Three-Layer Air Defense, Hit Key Oil Hub

Ukrainian drones penetrated three layers of air defenses around Moscow on Thursday and struck a major Russian oil refinery, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The attack targeted the Moscow Oil Refinery, one of Russia's largest, for the second time in days. Kyiv called it the biggest strike on the capital since the war began in 2022. "Despite three layers of air defense systems deployed in Moscow, as we have said before, we will still reach them," Zelenskyy told reporters. In early May, the Ukrainian leader said Russia had moved many air defense systems to Moscow from other regions to protect the city ahead of the May 9 Victory Day parade. Zelenskyy warned that if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to end the war, Ukraine will respond forcefully. "If Ukraine is burning, your Moscow will be burning as well," he said. The Ukrainian military said the refinery produces over 12 million tons of oil annually. Fuel from the site supports Russia's economy and military logistics. Video from Moscow showed large explosions and black smoke. One clip captured a drone striking a storage tank, sending its lid flying into the air. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said air defenses shot down more than 190 Ukrainian drones on Thursday. He confirmed that several drones reached the refinery. Ukraine has hit the Moscow Oil Refinery multiple times as part of a campaign against Russian energy facilities. Kyiv uses long-range drones to disrupt oil sales and prevent fuel from reaching Russian forces. Zelenskyy called these strikes "long-range sanctions" on Moscow. Ukraine has also targeted Russian ports, airfields, and weapons factories. "The key is for the Russian people to start feeling that, frankly, only one man is driving this war—Putin—while the people are paying the price," Zelenskyy said.