Moscow blanketed in noxious smoke after Ukraine launches biggest attack on Russia yet | News World

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Moscow was shrouded in noxious black smoke today after Ukraine’s biggest attack on the Russian capital in the course of the war up to now.

Russian air defences appear to have didn’t protect town from swarms of drones today, with locals saying they’ve never seen anything prefer it.

‘Nobody has ever bombed Moscow like this before,’ Exilenova+ reported.

The Moscow Oil Refinery at Kapotnya – one among the most important in Russia and partially damaged in an attack earlier this week – was repeatedly hit with explosions, with smoke turning the sky a dark black.

‘That is pure hell, I’ve never felt such terror,’ one resident said.

One other demanded: ‘Why won’t this madman stop his crazy and pointless war and end the death and destruction?’

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A large security operation was launched across the Kremlin, with Red Square sealed off and machine-gunners on the towers and Lenin’s Mausoleum. 

Between tower blocks, black smoke piled up as the hearth worsened (Picture: AFP)
This photo released by Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyev's official telegram channel shows the damage in a country side after a Ukrainian drone attack outside Moscow on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyev's official telegram channel via AP)
Damage was also reported on the outskirts of town (Picture: Reuters)
This photo provided by Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyev's official telegram channel shows firefighters extinguish a burning car after a Ukrainian drone attack outside Moscow on Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyev's official telegram channel via AP)
Cars in Moscow were set ablaze because the drones attacked (Picture: Reuters)

Electronic warfare and air defence missiles shot down multiple incoming drones – redirecting several to hit residential buildings, shattering glass and igniting fires. 

Moscow residents were forced to cower in underground automotive parks amid the Ukrainian onslaught. 

Considered one of Moscow’s largest shopping centres was burning after successful, and town’s most important airports suspended all flights while blocking traffic on the most important ring road.

Russian air defences claimed to have shot down 555 Ukrainian drones overnight — but enough An-196 Liutyi and FP-1 unmanned planes reached targets to inflict mayhem on the Russian capital. 

Moscow’s most important oil refinery supplies 40% of the fuel market in Moscow and 70% of the encircling region’s needs for gasoline and aviation fuel.

Thick plumes of smoke with flames rise from an oil refinery following what the authorities say is a Ukrainian drone strike in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Moscow, Russia, June 18, 2026, in this picture obtained from social media. SOCIAL MEDIA/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.
Large plumes of black smoke were seen across the skyline (Picture: Reuters)

An oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region was also set ablaze, in a strike that killed one person. 

Today’s onslaught reinforced how Ukraine has turned across the war, inflicting a succession of major setbacks on Putin, who can be failing to achieve significant frontline territory while losing ground in several sectors. 

Volodymyr Zelensky has said the war could stop if Putin engages in real peace talks, however the Russian dictator repeatedly refuses to accomplish that. 

In revenge attacks, Russia hit Ukrainian oil facilities within the Poltava region and shut to Kyiv.

Russia was spotted moving Tu-95MS strategic bombers across the country, suggesting a serious strike on Ukraine is probably going in the approaching days. 

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