Day 1574: Ukrainian drone strikes Moscow oil refinery 500 km from front line

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed a drone strike on the Moscow oil refinery in Kapotnya, located some 500 kilometres from the front line, calling it part of Ukraine's long-range coercion strategy. Meanwhile, Zelensky met briefly with US President Donald Trump at the G7 summit in France, and proposed holding Putin-Zelensky talks on US soil. Six people were also injured in the Moscow region following overnight drone attacks.

Ukrainian forces struck the Moscow oil refinery in the Kapotnya district of the Russian capital on the night of June 15-16, 2026, in one of the most high-profile long-range drone attacks of the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the strike on Telegram, attaching video footage showing the drone's flight path, an explosion, and the resulting fire at the refinery.

«Ukraine's long-range reach was felt in the Moscow region this time. An oil refinery was struck at a distance of 500 km,» Zelensky wrote, adding: «Russia must be coerced into ending the war against our people. Ukrainian long-range weapons are one of the key components of such coercion. This is a fair response to Russian strikes and to the prolonging of a war that must be ended.»

Moscow's mayor had earlier reported that at least 60 drones attacked the city overnight, with one striking the refinery facility and triggering a fire.

Casualties in Moscow Region

Russian regional governor Andrei Vorobyov reported that six people were injured across the Moscow Oblast following the drone attacks. Four men were hurt in Elektrostal after drone debris struck a residential complex, damaging windows on floors four through sixteen. One 57-year-old man was injured in the Parkovy district of Kotelniki, and a 13-year-old girl in the village of Tsibino suffered a stab-cut wound to the thigh. Air defence forces claimed to have shot down 86 drones over the region during the night and morning.

Zelensky and Trump Meet at G7 in France

On the sidelines of the G7 summit being held June 15-17 on the shores of Lake Geneva, Zelensky held a brief meeting with US President Donald Trump. Trump told reporters that the preliminary conversation with Zelensky had gone well, and that a further meeting was planned for later on Tuesday. Trump also stated that Russia must agree to a deal, as the war was causing heavy losses on both sides.

Zelensky published photos showing himself and Ukrainian National Security Council chief Rustem Umerov meeting with Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. «It is always important to coordinate positions,» Zelensky wrote alongside the images.

European diplomats are using the summit to persuade Trump that previous US ceasefire proposals were too favourable to Moscow, according to Reuters.

Putin-Zelensky Meeting Proposed for US Soil

Zelensky revealed that during a phone call with Trump he proposed hosting a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on US territory, a format in which, he argued, Putin would find it harder to decline. «We'll see what comes of it,» Zelensky said.

The Kremlin, however, stated through spokesman Dmitry Peskov that no official proposal for a Putin-Zelensky meeting at the G7 had been received through official channels. Peskov noted that there are currently no functioning official communication channels between Russia and Ukraine, but added that Zelensky was welcome to travel to Moscow if he was ready to speak «responsibly and seriously». Zelensky has repeatedly stated he is willing to meet Putin in any format, but not in Moscow.

Krasnodar Fuel Depot and UN Security Council

In a separate overnight operation, Ukrainian forces struck a major fuel storage facility belonging to the «Poltavskaya Neftebaza» company in Russia's Krasnodar region. The site serves as the main logistics hub for Lukoil's regional petrol station network. Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil and fuel infrastructure have already caused fuel shortages in several Russian regions, forcing authorities to impose sales restrictions at filling stations.

Ukraine also called for an emergency UN Security Council session following Russian airstrikes on Kyiv the previous night. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the strikes targeted Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro and other cities, killing civilians, injuring children, and killing rescuers who were hit in so-called double-tap strikes. He reported serious damage to residential buildings and UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Ukraine is also seeking responses through the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and UNESCO.

Russian Losses

According to the Ukrainian General Staff's assessment published on June 16, total Russian losses since February 24, 2022 stand at approximately 1,385,420 personnel, 12,026 tanks, 24,768 armoured fighting vehicles, and 353,541 tactical-level UAVs. Ukraine does not regularly publish its own casualty figures.