A large-scale wave of Ukrainian drone strikes targeted multiple regions across Russia overnight on September 20, scoring a direct hit on a major oil refinery in Moscow. The coordinated attack comes as Russia holds its three-day State Duma elections—the country’s first parliamentary vote since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.
Strike on the Moscow Oil Refinery
According to Ukraine’s General Staff, long-range drones successfully hit the Gazpromneft-Moscow Oil Refinery located in the capital’s Kapotnya district, causing a large-scale fire. The strike damaged critical infrastructure at the site, including the AVT-6 primary refining unit and the isomerization unit.
The Gazpromneft facility is one of Russia’s largest refineries, boasting a capacity of 11 to 12 million metric tons of crude oil annually. It supplies approximately 40% of Moscow’s fuel market and is a vital source of automotive gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel for Russian military operations in Ukraine.
Widespread Drone Swarm and Casualties
Russian authorities reported one of the largest drone barrages to date. Moscow Oblast Governor Andrei Vorobyov stated that Russian air defenses downed 249 drones across 17 districts between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. local time. Across a broader 12-hour window, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 288 Ukrainian drones spanning numerous regions, including Belgorod, Kursk, Bryansk, Kaluga, Oryol, Tula, Ryazan, and occupied Crimea.
The strikes resulted in civilian casualties within Russia. A drone struck a residential building in Sofyino, killing one woman and injuring five others, including two children. In Ramenskoye, falling debris ignited the roof of a 21-story residential building, forcing the evacuation of 400 people, while another man was killed when a drone struck a private home in a separate district.
The attack also prompted Russian aviation authorities to temporarily suspend operations at several airports, including Domodedovo and Zhukovsky near Moscow, citing flight safety concerns.
Strategic Impact and Official Responses
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated the overnight operations had a “very significant impact,” noting that a logistics facility in the Voronezh Oblast was also hit. Zelensky revealed that Ukraine utilized a diverse arsenal of long-range domestic weapons for the assault, including the Palianytsia, Liutyi, and Pelican drones.
Ukraine’s General Staff defended the strikes on Russia’s energy and military infrastructure, stating that targeting the aggressor’s facilities “constitutes Ukraine’s exercise of its inalienable right to self-defense.”