Zelenskyy confirmed the strike on the Moscow Oil Refinery
On the night of September 20, Ukrainian forces struck the Moscow oil refinery in the Kapotnya area. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strike and announced that one of Russia’s key oil industry facilities had been hit. The General Staff reported that a massive fire broke out at the refinery following the attack.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the strike on the facility. According to him, Ukrainian long-range weapons struck an oil industry facility and a Russian logistics site in the Moscow region last night. “Our long-range strikes had a very significant impact in the Moscow region last night. One of the Russian Federation’s key oil industry facilities and a logistics facility belonging to the aggressor have been struck. These are billions of dollars that support the war machine,” the president stated.
Zelenskyy also listed some of the Ukrainian long-range weapons used during the operation. Among them are the FP-1, RZ-100, MICH-2000, “Palyanytsia,” Vendetta, “Lyuty,” “Bars,” “Flamingo,” “Sichen,” and Pelican. The president thanked the military personnel of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Special Operations Forces, the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), and the Foreign Intelligence Service.
What is known about the strike on the oil refinery
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that on the night of September 20, Ukrainian defense forces struck the “Gazpromneft-Moscow Oil Refinery.” The refinery is located in the Kapotnya district in southeastern Moscow. A large-scale fire was reported on the refinery’s grounds following the strike.
According to the General Staff, several of the refinery’s units were hit simultaneously. Among them were the AVT-6 primary processing unit, the integrated oil refining unit, and the isomerization unit. At the same time, information regarding the exact extent of the damage and the attack’s subsequent impact on the plant’s operations may still be subject to clarification.
Why the Moscow Refinery Is Important
“Gazpromneft-Moscow Oil Refinery” is one of Russia’s largest oil refineries. The refinery has a capacity of approximately 12 million metric tons of crude oil per year. The facility refines crude oil and produces various types of fuel, including automotive gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, fuel oil, and other petroleum products.
According to the General Staff, the refinery is also involved in meeting the needs of the Russian Armed Forces. That is why the Ukrainian side considers the facility to be a key target within the Russian oil industry.
Zelenskyy mentioned another facility
The president also reported a strike on a facility in the Voronezh region. “Sanctions were also imposed on a facility in the Voronezh region,” Zelenskyy said. He did not provide all the details regarding this facility or the consequences of the strike.
The head of state also stated that Russia must end the war against Ukraine. “Moscow must stop building layered air defense rings at the expense of other regions and instead end its brutal war and choose peace,” Zelenskyy noted. According to him, there are already possible steps toward de-escalation, particularly in the energy sector and food security. At the same time, the president emphasized the need for political will. Currently, Ukraine continues to develop long-range weapons and strike Russian military and industrial targets which, according to Ukraine, are linked to supplying the Russian army. The head of state announced this on Facebook.
On the night of September 20, Moscow and the Moscow region came under a massive drone attack. One of the strikes hit the Gazpromneft-MNPZ oil refinery in the Kapotnya district of Moscow, after which a fire broke out at the facility.
