Zelenskyy on Moscow in flames: "justified response" to Russian attacks – video

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that the latest long-range strikes by Ukraine's defence forces on military targets inside Russia are a justified response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter); Security Service of Ukraine; General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; Ukraine's Special Operations Forces

Quote: "Last night, our long-range sanctions once again reached Moscow Oblast – for the second time this week, the Moscow oil refinery was hit. Targets were also struck in Rostov Oblast and in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

This is a fully justified response to Russian attacks on our cities and communities, and another important result of our warriors' work against facilities that sustain Russia's war machine."

Details: Zelenskyy thanked Ukraine's defence and security forces for their coordinated efforts – the Security Service of Ukraine, the Special Operations Forces, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and a missile brigade – for their accurate strikes.

"In recent days, all of our partners have noted the precision and effectiveness of our mid-range strikes and long-range sanctions. It is time the war ended, and Russia must take the necessary steps in diplomacy." Zelenskyy added.

The Security Service of Ukraine reports that at least four major seats of fire have been detected at the refinery. Large plumes of thick black smoke are rising, visible from various parts of Moscow.

Early reports indicate that Ukrainian drones struck storage tanks, a crude oil processing unit, which carries out primary processing of crude oil, and a diesel fuel hydrotreating unit.

Ukraine's General Staff added that the Gukovo oil depot in Russia's Rostov Oblast has also been struck. Hits and a fire have been recorded at the site. The oil depot is used for the storage and transshipment of fuel and lubricants that support the functioning of Russia's military and transport infrastructure.

Furthermore, Ukrainian forces struck a road bridge across the Kalka River near the village of Hranitne in Donetsk Oblast and a railway bridge across the North Crimean Canal near Rozdolne in temporarily occupied Crimea. The facilities were used by Russian forces for military transport and to support the logistics of the occupation forces.

A Russian command post was struck near Soledar in Donetsk Oblast.

Ukrainian troops also carried out strikes on Russian fuel and lubricant depots in Mariupol and Piatypillia in Donetsk Oblast as well as on a matériel depot near Boikivske in Donetsk Oblast.

Background:

• On the night of 17-18 June, Ukrainian drones broke through Moscow's layered air defence and struck the Moscow oil refinery in Kapotnya, causing a massive fire at the facility. Russian media outlets have described this as the largest attack in the past two years. It is the second successful strike on a strategic Russian facility within three days.
• On 15 June, Russia carried out yet another large-scale combined attack on Kyiv. This time, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (the Monastery of the Caves) was struck. A Shahed drone hit the monastery, causing a major fire in the main church – the Dormition Cathedral – which spread across 800 sq m of the roof.
• While inspecting the damage at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Zelenskyy vowed that there would be a response to this massive Russian attack.

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