Ukraine Sends 194 Drones Toward Moscow, Hitting Oil Refinery as Russia Says 555 Were Intercepted
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jun 18
Ukraine Sends 194 Drones Toward Moscow, Hitting Oil Refinery as Russia Says 555 Were Intercepted
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jun 18
Summary
194 drones bound for Moscow were shot down in eight hours, Russian officials said, marking Ukraine’s biggest attack on the capital in two years as strikes continued Thursday morning.
Several drones hit the Moscow Oil Refinery in Kapotnya for the second time this week, with video showing a large explosion and black smoke from fuel tanks as Kyiv intensifies attacks on Russian energy sites.
555 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across Russia overnight, the defense ministry said; Moscow airports briefly halted flights, and debris damaged buildings around the capital, while a separate strike in Rostov killed one civilian.
Russia answered with seven missiles and 239 drones against Ukraine overnight, hitting energy and oil facilities as Zelensky pressed NATO allies in Brussels for more air defenses and long-range support.
The barrage underscores Kyiv’s strategy of striking deep inside Russia to squeeze oil revenue that supplies at least one-third of the state budget and raise pressure on Moscow to end the war.
As Ukraine's drones cripple its oil industry, can Russia's war economy survive a severe, long-term fuel crisis?
With Ukraine's drone campaign succeeding, what is the ultimate risk of a major Russian escalation in response?
June 2026 Surge in Ukraine-Russia Conflict: Record Civilian Harm, Cultural Heritage Attacks, and Strategic Energy Strikes
Overview
In mid-June 2026, Kyiv was hit by large-scale Russian missile and drone attacks, continuing a trend of rising civilian harm across Ukraine. These strikes caused significant damage to the Pechersk Lavra complex, including a fire at the Dormition Cathedral, one of Ukraine’s most important religious sites. The attacks on cultural and religious landmarks not only destroy physical heritage but also deprive communities of their shared sense of belonging. This escalation reflects the ongoing human cost of Russia’s full-scale invasion, with May 2026 marked by the highest civilian casualties in years, highlighting the deepening impact of the conflict.