Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Moscow is burning for the second time this week.
Ukraine has once again taken its drone campaign directly to the Russian capital, hitting a critical energy hub.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the operation on social media on Thursday, announcing that Kyiv’s forces struck the Moscow Oil Refinery.
The refinery is estimated to produce 40% of the fuel consumed in Moscow, and the strike marks the second time in a week that drones have hit this specific refinery.
According to Ukrainian reports, the operation also targeted Russia’s southern Rostov region and occupied territories. Kyiv called the action a necessary move.
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Choking the machine
Zelensky used social media to highlight the expanding reach of his military.
“Our long-range sanctions once again reached the Moscow region: for the second time in a week, the Moscow Oil Refinery was hit,” he wrote.
He emphasized that the strikes directly hit the systems enabling the ongoing invasion.
“This is a completely fair response to Russian strikes on our cities and communities, and another important result of our soldiers’ work against facilities that support the Russian war machine,” Zelensky said.
The Kremlin acknowledged that a massive swarm of uncrewed aircraft targeted the region during a three-hour overnight raid.
Russian media reported fires at the refinery and shopping centers, while a separate oil depot burned in Rostov. Kyiv increasingly uses these strikes to raise the cost of the war for Moscow.
Push for peace
Zelensky thanked Ukraine’s security forces and drone brigades for the success.
“These days, all our partners have noted the accuracy and effectiveness of our medium-range strikes and long-range sanctions,” he said.
The Ukrainian government hopes this pressure will push the Kremlin toward negotiations. As the smoke cleared, Zelensky issued a direct challenge.
“It is time the war ended, and Russia must take the necessary steps toward diplomacy.”
