Ukraine intensifies drone strikes on Russia; oil refining capacity cut by more than half

Attack on the Moscow region

Ukraine carried out a large-scale drone attack on Russia's Moscow region. According to TVNET, a 20-year-old man was killed in the Solnechnogorsk district, and several other people were injured, three of whom were hospitalized. In Istra, ten residential houses, outbuildings and two cars were damaged; in Domodedovo a private house caught fire, and another building was destroyed in Baribino. Citing eyewitness photos and videos, Ukrainian Telegram channels and the independent Russian outlet Astra reported a fire at the Volodarskaya linear production and dispatch station, described as the largest oil depot in the Moscow region and part of the Transnefteprodukt company.

Russian officials gave differing figures on the number of drones shot down: Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyov said 185 drones were destroyed over the region, while Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed that since the evening of October 5, 650 drones had flown toward the city and region, most intercepted at "distant borders" and 105 shot down while approaching Moscow.

Refining capacity falls

Ukraine's Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that long-range strikes on refineries in Moscow, Yaroslavl, Ust-Luga, Perm, Saratov and Syzran had neutralized more than 51% of Russia's oil refining capacity, Diena reports. Defense Minister Yevhenii Hmara called it a major blow to the enemy's economy and its ability to supply its forces. Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged on October 1 that the strikes had cost Russia about 1% of GDP, saying the goal had been only "partially" achieved. The International Energy Agency says diesel production has fallen by roughly 30%, with drivers in some areas waiting up to 40 hours at filling stations; Russia has responded with a diesel export ban and lowered fuel quality standards.

Deep strikes and new weapons

According to DELFI, a drone attack on October 4 sparked a fire at the Khanskaya military airfield in Adygea, about 500 km from Ukrainian-controlled territory. Around the same time, Russia attacked Ukraine with 135 drones and small missiles, of which Ukraine's Air Force shot down or neutralized 123 drones and two missiles.

Russia unveiled a new weapon, the Dan-T, at an aviation show in Egypt — slower but cheaper than the Geran-5 and carrying a larger, 130 kg warhead, Lrytas reports. Production is planned to reach 2,000 units by the end of 2026 and 14,000 by 2027. To counter the newer, faster jet-powered drones, Kyiv has begun deploying AI-guided robotic machine-gun turrets, LRT reports; according to adviser Serhii Beskrestnov, 12 such turrets have already been installed in the capital, with an effective range of about one kilometer.