Russian authorities reported intercepting at least 200 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow during the early hours of June 18, making it the largest drone attack on the Russian capital since the start of the war, according to official statements and regional authorities.

Ukraine has steadily expanded the scale and range of its long-distance drone campaign against Russian military, energy and infrastructure targets. 

Earlier this month, the flagship Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) kicked off as Ukraine struck Saint Petersburg's oil terminals with long-range drones.

The timing of the latest attack on Moscow coincides with the G7 summit, where Kyiv is seeking additional air defence systems, weapons and political support from Western allies. 

The previous largest attacks on Moscow occurred on March 11 2025, when more than 90 drones were reportedly intercepted, and on May 17 2026, when authorities reported shooting down more than 120 drones.

Russian military bloggers and pro-war Telegram channels argued that some targets inevitably penetrated air defences because of the scale of the attack, while maintaining that Moscow's air defence system had generally performed effectively.

One of the most significant targets appears to have been the Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin admitted that several drones had "managed to reach" the facility. Videos widely circulated on social media showed fires and large columns of black smoke coming from the refinery's territory. The refinery is a key supplier of fuel to Moscow and the surrounding region. 

Air traffic was also disrupted. All four major airports serving Moscow, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky, temporarily suspended operations during the attack. According to reports in Russian media, passengers were evacuated from some aircraft at Sheremetyevo Airport. Telegram channel SHOT estimated that a total of 527 flights were delayed or cancelled.

The latest drone attack also caused damage to civilian infrastructure. Debris from drones intercepted by Pantsir air defence systems reportedly fell on the Sadovod shopping centre, damaging one of its buildings. 

In Zhukovsky district, a drone struck a residential apartment building, while in Lyubertsy, debris damaged a fitness centre and the roof of the Belaya Dacha shopping centre, which suspended operations for what management described as technical reasons. Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported 16 people injured.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the operation as a "fair response" to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and simultaneously called for negotiations.