Moscow Residents Report 'Black Oil Rain' After Ukrainian Drone Strikes on Refinery

Moscow residents have complained of ‘black oil rain’ after a barrage of Ukrainian drone strikes hit a local oil refinery. Sooty black spots fell across parts of the Russian capital after the refinery in the Kapotnya district was struck, in what was reportedly the largest drone attack on the city since the war began in 2022. Governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, reported that thick black smoke billowed into the sky and at least 17 people were injured. Residents in the southeastern district told the BBC that drizzle had left ‘annoying black spots’ on their clothing. While city authorities denied that ‘oil rain’ had occurred, an official Moscow Telegram channel warned residents in the affected district to close their windows and urged families with children, the elderly, and asthma sufferers to leave the area immediately. The complaints followed a massive fire at the Kapotnya oil refinery, triggered by the drone attack, which was the third such incident in a month and the second in a week. Dramatic video footage showed the roof of a storage tank being blown off by a large explosion, with huge flames erupting. A nearby shopping centre also caught fire, reportedly after being struck by falling drone debris. Verified footage showed a drone hitting the floor of a multi-storey building, sending glass and debris into the courtyard below, while another clip revealed a thick, dark layer of oil coating a car park’s asphalt, with the ground beneath parked vehicles remaining clean. A local woman, speaking anonymously, described noticing ‘annoying black spots’ on her clothes and her friend’s jacket after stepping outside during a light drizzle. The Russian Defence Ministry reported that nearly 1,000 drones and four cruise missiles were intercepted and destroyed across various regions in the preceding 24 hours. Four airports in the Moscow area were temporarily closed, and over 500 flights were cancelled or delayed. An oil depot in the southern Rostov region was also hit, with at least one person reported killed.