Moscow: A Russian air defence missile accidentally struck a major oil refinery in Moscow, sending its roof flying in the air.
A dramatic video has now surfaced, showing the circular roof being launched into the air like a flying saucer amid a powerful explosion.
The surface-to-air missile, which was deployed to intercept an incoming Ukrainian drone, missed its target and slammed directly into the refinery’s storage tank. The resulting blast created a mushroom cloud and propelled the tank’s heavy lid high into the sky before it crashed back to earth, as reported by Republic TV.
Yan Matveev, a self-exiled Russian military analyst, posted that the refinery, one of the largest in Russia, was already battling intense flames and billowing thick black smoke from a Ukrainian drone onslaught when the rogue missile hit.
It has been reported that the facility in question is critical to the region’s infrastructure, supplying more than a third of the fuel used across Moscow and its surrounding areas.
The errant shot was likely fired by a Pantsir air defense system from the northeastern direction. This friendly-fire incident unfolded during what has been described as a massive aerial assault by independent Telegram channel Astra.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that 194 drones had been intercepted while approaching the capital, marking the largest coordinated drone raid on the city since February 2022.
Russian air defenses faced widespread scrutiny despite the high number of reported shootdowns. There are multiple videos circulating online, showing repeated missed engagements, with drone debris ultimately raining down on residential buildings and commercial properties.
The primary target of the Ukrainian raid appeared to be the Gazprom Neft-owned Moscow Oil Refinery (MNPZ) located in Kapotnya. The plant had already sustained damage during a previous attack on Tuesday, which had reportedly forced a suspension of its operations.
The latest strikes severely impacted the refinery’s Euro+ processing unit-a critical component that accounts for nearly half of the facility’s total capacity, Reuters reported. The explosions also damaged interconnected pipelines, secondary installations, and storage tanks.
Falling drone debris struck the grounds of the nearby Sadovod shopping center, igniting a fire and damaging a building. Local authorities also confirmed varying levels of damage to private homes and apartment complexes across the broader Moscow region.
Moscow officials attempted to downplay the economic fallout though. In a statement released hours after the incident, authorities assured the public that “supplies of oil products to Moscow and the work of all gas stations in the city continue as normal.”
