Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks of the war against Russia, sending hundreds of unmanned aircraft toward Moscow and other regions on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Russian officials said air defenses intercepted 555 drones nationwide, including nearly 200 in the Moscow area. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said some drones reached a major oil refinery in the city’s southeast, the second strike on that facility in a week, and a shopping center was also lightly damaged.
Videos and photos from the refinery showed multiple impacts and a fuel storage tank exploding. Russian transport authorities briefly halted flights at four Moscow airports, and passengers were evacuated from Sheremetyevo, some sheltering in parking lots, before restrictions were later lifted. At the same time, Russia fired ballistic missiles at Kyiv, where officials reported a second air attack this week and residents described heavy explosions. In the northeastern city of Sumy, one person was killed by a drone strike.
The attack came after President Volodymyr Zelensky held coordination calls with U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. Zelensky said Ukraine had received new promises of support at the G7 summit, and reports said Trump agreed to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin. Macron said G7 states were united behind Ukraine and would keep strengthening its ability to defend itself and carry out counterattacks.
Alongside the strikes on Moscow, Ukraine has stepped up efforts to isolate Crimea by hitting supply routes, vehicles, trains, and bridges linking the peninsula to Russian-held areas in southern Ukraine. Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s unmanned systems forces, told The New York Times the goal is a “logistical siege” of Crimea. He said traffic on the main road had fallen sharply and the attacks were hindering Russian deliveries of supplies, ammunition, and fuel.
Fuel shortages in Crimea are already severe, with social media showing burning fuel trucks and long queues at gas stations. Some stations are selling fuel only with vouchers and QR codes, tourists are stranded or canceling trips, and a Russian booking company said nearly 80% of reservations made in late May and early June were canceled. Residents are also stockpiling basics such as sugar, rice, and pasta, leaving some supermarket shelves empty.
