Ukraine ruined Putin's holiday: Moscow came under powerful attack

Ukraine launched one of the largest attacks on Moscow since the start of the war, hitting the Moscow Oil Refinery in Kapotnya. The plant completely halted processing, leading to queues at gas stations and restrictions on fuel sales. The attack coincided with the day of Putin's party's expected victory in the parliamentary elections.

Ukraine launched a massive attack on Moscow on the day when Vladimir Putin's United Russia party, according to preliminary data, won the parliamentary elections. The main target was the Moscow Oil Refinery in Kapotnya. According to Reuters, the attack disabled both main primary processing units — AVT-6 (21,400 tons of feedstock per day) and EURO+ (18,800 tons), leading to a complete halt in processing. Recovery could take several weeks. As early as September 21, the plant stopped selling fuel on the exchange. On Monday, queues appeared at Moscow gas stations, and some stations began limiting fuel sales. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported the interception of over 1,600 drones, about 450 of which were heading toward the capital, and reported at least three deaths. Sobyanin linked the attack to an attempt to disrupt the elections; Kyiv has not officially confirmed such a goal. US President Donald Trump acknowledged that Ukrainian strikes have disabled a significant number of Russian diesel fuel production facilities. The attack occurred amid US efforts to achieve a cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure. Volodymyr Zelensky stated readiness for de-escalation if Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure cease.