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Friday 19 June 2026

Ukrainian strike on Moscow oil refinery brings war to ordinary Russians

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Ukraine has launched one of its biggest drone strikes of the war against Moscow, targeting its main oil refinery for the second time this week. One of the projectiles struck the facility yesterday morning, causing an explosion that clouded the Russian capital’s skyline with black smoke and suspended flights at its main airport. The refinery sits within Moscow’s ring road, just 10 miles from the Kremlin. By attacking it, Kyiv intends to bring the war home to ordinary Russians, while signalling to allies that the momentum is shifting in its favour – a message emphasised by Volodymyr Zelensky at this week’s G7 summit. Ukraine’s campaign of deep strikes is also having a material impact, causing fuel shortages and disrupting military logistics.

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