Why are Moscow’s air defenses struggling to stop drone attacks? And why are oil refineries so vulnerable to Ukrainian strikes?
Ukraine has scaled up drone strikes across Russia, including targets in Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry reported a record number of drones shot down in May. Recent attacks on the capital showed a chaotic defense response.
What changed
Reports now include record monthly drone interception figures and observations of chaotic defenses in Moscow.
Live updates
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Ukrainian Drone Attacks Reach Record Highs in Russia
confidence 90%Ukraine has scaled up drone strikes across Russia, including targets in Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry reported a record number of drones shot down in May. Recent attacks on the capital showed a chaotic defense response.
What's confirmed:
- The Russian Defense Ministry claimed it shot down 9,418 Ukrainian drones in May.
Still unconfirmed:
- Russia's response to drone attacks in Moscow appeared to be a scramble rather than a strategic defense.
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Russia Strengthens Air Defenses After Ukrainian Drone Strikes
confidence 90%Ukrainian drones have penetrated Moscow's air defenses to target oil refineries. Vladimir Putin has pledged to bolster defenses as attacks reach deep into Russian territory. These strikes have caused serious damage to fuel production capabilities.
What's confirmed:
- President Vladimir Putin stated Russia will strengthen air defenses to counter Ukrainian drone attacks.
- Ukrainian drone strikes have reached deep inside Russia.
Still unconfirmed:
- Kyiv's strike campaign on oil refineries has inflicted serious but likely not critical damage to fuel production.
- Mass drone strikes on the capital brought the war to Russians.
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Ukraine Launches Largest Drone Offensive on Moscow to Date
confidence 85%Ukrainian drones breached Moscow's air defenses on June 16 and 18 to strike a key oil refinery. These attacks disabled primary oil distillation units and ignited fuel storage tanks. The offensive demonstrates Ukraine's ability to overwhelm Russia's most heavily guarded air defense zone.
What's confirmed:
- Ukrainian drones struck the Moscow oil refinery on June 16 and 18.
- The strikes knocked out both primary oil distillation units at the Moscow refinery.
- Fuel storage tanks caught fire during the June 18 attack.
- Ukraine launched 1,300 drones targeting factories and oil refineries around Moscow.
- Ukraine intelligence suggests Russia is consuming interceptor missiles faster than it can produce them.
Still unconfirmed:
- A blast at the Moscow refinery may have been caused by friendly fire.
- Oil extraction and refining make up around 90% of Russia's defense budget.
- Russia's refining capacity has dropped by 37% due to nearly 160 strikes in 2025.