How Ukraine is breaking through defences to bring war home to Moscow

Ukraine's upgraded long-range drones a mounting headache for Moscow Fri 19 Jun 2026 at 4:07pm When Ukrainian drones struck an oil tank in Moscow, the blast was so powerful it sent the huge disc-shaped lid soaring into the air like a frisbee. It was the second time the refinery had been attacked in three days with "several drones" managing to reach the site, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. The refinery, located just 16 kilometres from the Kremlin, was hit in one of Ukraine's largest attacks on Moscow to date. At the start of the war, Ukraine did not have weapons capable of reaching the Russian capital. But after continuously developing and evolving mostly locally made long-range drones, it is now reaching deeper into Russian territory. The recent attack reportedly involved a mix of propeller-driven drones and jet-powered "missile" drones, which are more powerful and can travel at faster speeds. Kyiv claims its increasing ability to strike targets across Moscow is evidence it is turning the tide of the war. Boost in long-range capabilities At the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine struggled to convince the United States and European allies to provide it with long-range weapons. Many countries were hesitant, wanting to avoid escalating the conflict into a direct confrontation with Russia. So Ukraine began boosting the development and production of its own long-range drones and missiles. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said in 2022 it had the ability to strike at a range of about 630km. In April, it said its long-range weapons were now "successfully destroying" Russia's military equipment "at a distance of about 1,750km". Matthew Sussex, associate professor in strategic studies at Deakin University's Centre for Future Defence and National Security, said Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities were constantly evolving. "They've got this multitude of drones that they use," Dr Sussex told the ABC. "It's estimated that the ones they're using against Moscow have about 30 kilos worth of explosives, which is very decent. "Now there are some more modern types that are jet-propelled that can carry bigger payloads." 'Missile drone' makes appearance In addition to the conventional drones typically used in long-range strikes against Russian targets, local Ukrainian media reported Kyiv had used its jet-powered missile drones during the June 18 attack. Some defence analysts said videos circulating online also appeared to show jet-propelled, one-way attack drones were used. Jet-propelled drones typically use compact turbojet engines and can be launched from ground-based platforms and aircraft. Loading...Ukraine's Bar drone, a so-called "drone-missile", had been cited in reports. Dr Sussex said Ukraine unveiled the Bar in April 2025. "It's being referred to as a missile drone, but frankly, every missile is a drone effectively and every drone is a missile," he said. "It's effectively a medium-range missile that's fairly manoeuvrable because it's got a turbo-jet engine." The Bar flies at about 800km/h and can carry an estimated payload of between 50kg to 100kg, he added. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, its air defences downed 555 drones across the country overnight. At least 194 drones were intercepted on approach to Moscow. Dr Sussex said the volume of drones launched and the mix of different types would have helped scramble Russia's air defences. In addition to striking one of Russia's largest refineries, which produces more than a third of the Moscow region's fuel, Ukrainian drones hit a residential building in the town of Zhukovsky. The attack also temporarily halted flights from four Moscow airports, leaving more than 500 flights delayed or cancelled. Ukraine sends message to civilians Moscow has been periodically hit by drones since May 2023, when two of them reached the Kremlin itself, without causing damage. Kyiv's attacks across Russian territory were largely aimed at crippling the oil industry that helps finance Russia's war effort. But Ukraine has also signalled its intention to send a message to ordinary Russians. "One of the most popular questions asked by Muscovites this morning is 'What is going on?' I can answer," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted on X. "Your country started a war of aggression against ours. For years, it has been killing our people. "Now that you know what's going on, ask Putin when he is planning to end it." Konstantin, a local walking near the oil refinery in Moscow's south-eastern Kapotnya district after it was struck, told AFP he had "never seen anything like it". Valentina, a 29-year-old manager, said she was woken up by the noise. "It's really scary," she told the news agency. John Lough, associate fellow of the Chatham House Russia and Eurasia Programme, said the war was starting to hit home for Russian civilians. "The population is clearly becoming concerned and frustrated by this," he told ABC Radio National's AM. "In some places in the country where they've had repeated drone attacks, people are feeling that they really don't have adequate defences. "Since this war was supposed to improve Russia's security, I think many people could see there is a big gap between what Putin is saying and what's actually happening." Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack was an "absolutely justified response" to deadly strikes on Kyiv, including one earlier this week on a landmark cathedral and a UNESCO-protected 11th-century monastery. He said he wanted Russians to put pressure on Mr Putin for the consequences of Europe's worst conflict since World War II. Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the lower house of Russia's parliament, warned that Moscow would respond by ramping up its strikes. "Their action will lead to our counteraction and launching harsher blows, with more powerful weapons," Mr Volodin said in televised remarks. Jim Townsend, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, said the war had been shifting in Ukraine's favour and it would likely be weighing on the Russian president. "They [Ukraine] have developed the drone warfare to not only help them on the battlefield against the Russians, but have the long-range strike capability to bring the war to Russia," he told ABC News Channel. "So as more and more Russians see these dark clouds over their cities from burning oil refineries, Putin might be looking for a way out."