Zelenskyy: Ukraine Hit Moscow Refinery Twice as Russia Strikes Kyiv

Russian air defenses intercepted 555 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions, with nearly 200 of those targets destroyed as they approached Moscow. Despite this interception rate, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian drones struck a Moscow oil refinery for the second time this week. Simultaneously, Russia launched ballistic missiles at Kyiv. President Zelenskyy is actively seeking support from the United States and European nations to negotiate a deal that would end the conflict.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed that several drones breached defenses and hit the oil refinery. He stated that air defense forces repelled a massive attack but admitted the facility suffered direct hits. A shopping center nearby also sustained minor damage. This attack follows a similar strike on Tuesday that halted operations at the same refinery, according to Reuters. The repeated assaults on Russian energy infrastructure are exacerbating the nation's fuel crisis.

Yulia Shapovalova, reporting from Kazan, described the refinery as a strategically vital enterprise supplying approximately 40 percent of petrol and other oil products to millions of residents in the capital. She noted that fires are still burning heavily while emergency services work to extinguish them. In the surrounding Moscow region, the attack damaged a high-rise residential building, an industrial facility, and several private homes. Sheremetyevo Airport, the city's busiest hub, suspended flights and evacuated passengers, forcing some to seek shelter in the car park.

Kyiv faced a second wave of Russian air attacks this week, with officials reporting the launch of ballistic missiles against the Ukrainian capital. Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, urged citizens to remain in safe locations until air raid alerts concluded. Meanwhile, authorities in Sumy reported one death caused by a drone attack. Audrey MacAlpine, reporting from Kyiv, stated that nine locations were struck after Ukraine received at least 239 drones and seven ballistic missiles overnight. Ukrainian officials claim they intercepted the majority of these incoming threats.

Earlier in the week, a major Russian attack on Kyiv killed 11 people and damaged a UNESCO-listed 1,000-year-old monastery, a move that drew condemnation from European leaders. Russia denied striking the historic site. These escalations occur as Zelenskyy intensifies efforts to pressure Russia into negotiations to end the war that has lasted more than four years. Zelenskyy reported speaking with US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and other G7 leaders to coordinate an end to the fighting.

G7 leaders pledged to bolster Ukraine's air defense systems and increase pressure on Russia's war economy by tightening sanctions on the oil and gas sectors. Donald Trump told reporters he would do whatever he could to bring peace to Ukraine. Zelenskyy confirmed he secured important commitments from the G7, including additional air defense missiles, licenses for domestic production, and a winter support package. He emphasized on social media that the United States is prepared to provide a backstop for these critical initiatives.

Leaders insist that every word spoken at the summit must become immediate reality on the ground. They warn Moscow that the path to peace will not be found through half-measures or empty promises. The message is clear: Russia must understand that their war effort will never be normalized under any circumstances. Officials stress that the international community remains united against further aggression and escalation.