In one of the largest attacks on Moscow since the start of the war, Ukraine used new-generation domestically produced weapons, including Flamingo missiles, while over 1,000 drones were simultaneously launched towards Russian territory. As the drones were shot down, the Flamingo missile reached its destination, hitting Russian refineries.
The attack took place on the night of September 20, and Russian authorities described it as the largest drone attack on Moscow since the start of the war. According to Russian officials, more than 1,600 drones were shot down across the country, including about 450 targeting Moscow.
The attack also hit Gazprom Neft's Moscow oil refinery. According to Reuters, crude oil processing at the refinery was halted after the strike, which caused a fire in the main distillation units. Industry sources said that repairing the damage could take weeks.
During 2024, the refinery processed 11.6 million tons of crude oil and produced, among other things, gasoline and diesel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that domestic long-range systems, including Flamingo and Pelican missiles, were used in the attack, along with various types of drones.
"Our long-range strikes had a very significant impact on the Moscow region," Zelensky said, adding that they hit one of the main facilities of the Russian oil industry and a logistics facility.
According to him, it is about infrastructure that generates revenue for Russia's war effort.
Flamingo is a cruise missile developed by the Ukrainian company Fire Point. Ukraine has previously presented this system as one of its main projects for long-range attacks.
Some reports say the missile has a range of nearly 3,000 kilometers and weighs about six tons.
The same attack also used the new Ukrainian Pelican ballistic missile, known as the FP-7. According to reports, its role was primarily to strike Russian air defense systems, opening up space for longer-range missiles.
The attack had consequences beyond the military targets. Russian authorities said at least three people were killed in the Moscow region and about 20 others were injured. Residential buildings were also damaged, and hundreds of residents were evacuated.
Moscow said the attack took place on the last day of parliamentary elections in Russia. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed that one of the goals of the attack was to disrupt the electoral process. The Ukrainian side, however, presented the attack primarily as a strike on Russian oil and logistics infrastructure.
Attacks on Russian refineries have become a significant part of Ukraine's long-range weapons campaign in recent months. The refineries hit play a key role in supplying the Russian market with fuel, and previous attacks have caused production cuts, fuel prices to rise and supply problems in some parts of the country.