Jun. 18 — In the aftermath of a Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow oil refinery located in Kapotnya district of the city, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russians should be putting ‘pressure’ on Vladimir Putin to feel that ‘there’s no point to war,” reports European Pravda based on Zelenskyy’s audio comment.  

In the morning of Jun. 18, Ukrainian drones hit the Moscow oil refinery that, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, provides oil for about 38% of Moscow’s fuel consumption. Telegram channels posted videos from locals showing the consequences of the attack, and Moscow’s Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed the attack on the city’s oil refinery. The Ukrainian army also launched airstrikes on the Moscow outskirts, injuring, according to local authorities, 17 people. Sobyanin claimed no one was injured at the oil refinery plant itself.

President Zelenskyy commented that, despite Moscow having three circles of air defense, Ukrainian drones can reach their target. He said that the main thing (goal of these attacks — ed.) is for Russian people to feel that they’re paying for the war Putin leads. 

“That’s why, I think, everybody should put pressure on Putin: Ukrainians, absolutely all Europeans, Americans, and Russians. It’s time for you to sober up and put pressure on your leaders.” 

On Jun. 16, Ukraine also attacked Moscow’s oil refinery plant — the drones hit the device used to prepare and refine the raw oil. 

These attacks are part of the Ukrainian campaign to paralyze the Russian oil industry, the profits from which are used to fund Russia’s war in Ukraine. 

This summer, Russia bombs Kharkiv as much as it can, and our newsroom keeps working despite it all. If you want to support us amidst it all, please consider buying us a $5 coffee or subscribing to our community long-term. 

Read more