Ukraine Strikes Moscow Oil Refinery – Fragments Resembling Flamingo Missile Found

Ukrainian strike drones and cruise missiles successfully targeted the Moscow oil refinery.

Footage published by the Exilenova+ media outlet shows the attack.

The strike took place overnight on September 20, triggering a large-scale fire at the refinery.

A drone threat alert was issued at 3:19 a.m. Then, at 3:51 a.m., Russian monitoring channels began reporting that air defense systems were operating.

As of 5:27 a.m., monitoring channels were still reporting ongoing air defense activity.

Despite reports of a drone threat, local residents found the remains of an unidentified missile that visually resembles the Ukrainian FP-5 Flamingo. In one video recorded by local residents, a jet engine can be heard. However, there is currently no confirmation that the missile was used in the attack.

According to geolocation data, a combined oil refining unit (CORU) and an AVT-6 oil treatment unit were hit. Further details are being determined.

The refinery in Kapotnya is among the ten largest oil-processing facilities in Russia and supplies about 40% of the Moscow region’s demand for petroleum products, including Moscow and the surrounding oblast.

The Moscow oil refinery currently has a processing capacity of 11 million tonnes of crude oil per year. At the same time, it is one of the most compact refineries of its class, covering just 284 hectares.

The production complex includes more than 30 processing units for various purposes, including catalytic and thermal cracking and reforming.

The refinery produces AI-80EK, AI-92EK, and AI-95EK gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation kerosene, bitumen, sulfur, and various polymers.

moscow pic.twitter.com/BvspWwwAlN

— Exilenova+ (@Exilenova_plus) September 20, 2026

In June 2026, Militarnyi reported that the Moscow Oil Refinery, which had suffered significant damage from Ukrainian drone strikes, was unlikely to resume production this year.

The first attack took place on June 16, when a fire broke out at the refinery. The smoke was visible from several kilometers away.

According to footage released by local residents, Ukraine’s Defense Forces used FP-1 drones, Lyutyi drones, and Shahed-type UAVs to strike the capital region of the aggressor state.

A second strike on the refinery followed on June 18. Footage recorded by local residents showed multiple fires across the facility, including at the ELOU-AVT-6 unit.

The unit prepares and initially processes crude oil. Its main purpose is to separate crude oil into basic fractions (distillates) for further fuel production.