(MOSCOW) – Ukrainian drone strikes on the Russian capital have shattered the Kremlin’s illusion of Moscow’s untouchability, with residents now confronting the consequences of a war they had long treated as a distant television spectacle.
On 18 June, Ukrainian drones struck the Moscow oil refinery, a facility owned by Gazprom Neft, for the second time in a week. The attack caused critical damage to two key processing units, one of which accounted for 47 per cent of the refinery’s total processing capacity. The drones also destroyed auxiliary equipment, interunit pipelines and several large storage tanks for finished petroleum products. The resulting fire caused extensive damage and halted fuel production at the facility. Footage of the strike was released by Ukrainian military sources.
The attack has had immediate effects on Moscow residents. Social media has been filled with thousands of complaints about thick black soot coating cars, the windows of luxury high-rise apartments and clothing. The soot, which resulted from the burning of petroleum products, has created a visible reminder of the war in the daily lives of Muscovites.
For years, Russian state television and social media had celebrated attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, with many Russians openly cheering strikes on Ukrainian thermal power plants and residential buildings. The war was treated as something happening elsewhere, something that would never disturb their own comfort. The strikes on the Moscow refinery have changed that perception, with comment sections showing noticeably less enthusiasm.
Russian state television has largely ignored the strikes. Channel 1, the country’s main state broadcaster, made no mention of the drone attack on the capital or the damage to the refinery. Instead, viewers received updates on Russia’s diplomatic achievements and international negotiations. Vladimir Solovyov, the Kremlin’s chief television propagandist, has adjusted his messaging, urging Russians to prepare for hard times and embrace self-sacrifice, though he has not indicated any willingness to sacrifice his own luxury possessions.
The strike on the Moscow refinery has also exposed the weakness of Russia’s air defence systems. Despite repeated claims by the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin that Russian air defence is among the best in the world, Ukrainian drones have been able to penetrate the capital’s defences on multiple occasions. The attacks have raised questions about the Kremlin’s ability to protect critical infrastructure and the civilian population.
In a related development, the Russian government has cancelled the MAKS International Aviation and Space Show for the fourth consecutive year. The biennial air show, held in Zhukovsky since the collapse of the Soviet Union, had served as Moscow’s primary stage for impressing foreign investors and showcasing Russian aviation.
Organisers had repeatedly promised that the event would return, but the consequences of international isolation and sanctions have made it impossible. The Russian civilian and military aircraft industries remain dependent on imported components, including bearings, microchips and composite materials, which are no longer available due to sanctions. Foreign aerospace giants and international delegations have stayed away, leaving the Kremlin with nothing to display.
The cancellation of the air show is symbolic of Russia’s broader international isolation. The Kremlin has struggled to maintain its global standing as the war has dragged on and sanctions have taken their toll. The Russian economy is under severe strain, with two thirds of tax revenue directed towards military operations, inflation remaining elevated and the rouble weakening. The central bank’s key interest rate currently stands at 21 per cent, a historically high level.
The strikes on Moscow and the cancellation of the air show have coincided with the disappearance of Elvira Nabiullina, the head of Russia’s central bank, who reportedly warned Putin that the country can no longer afford the war. Nabiullina was removed from the list of speakers at the St Petersburg Economic Forum and has not been seen in public since. The official explanation is sick leave, but Russian experts have speculated that she may be under house arrest or have fled the country.
The Kremlin’s response to the deepening crisis has been to increase military spending and to hide budget deficits. Putin has continued to order economic growth without presenting a credible strategy, according to analysts.
The Russian dictator, who has been in power for more than two decades, increasingly believes he is an expert in all areas, including military strategy and economics, and has rejected advice from his own officials.
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