Drone attack hits refinery in Moscow for the second time in three days; Kiev also suffers bombing

Drone attack hits refinery in Moscow
A Ukrainian drone attack hit the Moscow oil refinery this Thursday (18). This is the second attack to hit the location this week. Kiev was also hit by missiles fired by Russia, a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky articulated support for the country at the G7 summit, which took place in France.
According to Russia, the air defense system destroyed 555 drones across the country. In the Moscow region, the city's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, reported shooting down 180 drones.
On Tuesday (16), the refinery was the target of an attack that caused widespread damage to Russian energy facilities. The country, the world's third largest oil producer and a major fuel exporter, is expected to import fuel this month to contain the impacts of the gasoline shortage crisis, according to industry sources.
Dense smoke is seen in Moscow this Thursday (18) following attacks.
Social Media / Reproduction via Reuters
In addition to the refinery, a residential building, an industrial facility and some houses were damaged in the attack, the government said. The impacts extended to the capital's air traffic, with the main airport having its operations temporarily suspended and people evacuated.
In parallel, the capital of Ukraine was targeted by Russian ballistic missiles, Kiev municipal authorities reported. Air raid warnings have been issued for most of Ukraine's territory.
Photo provided by Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyev's official Telegram channel shows firefighters putting out fire from a burning car after a Ukrainian drone strike on the outskirts of the capital.
Reproduction via AP
Authorities in the city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine said one person was killed in a drone strike.
Earlier this week, a major attack on the city killed 10 people and caused a serious fire and destroyed part of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, one of the oldest and most important Christian monasteries in the country, located in the capital. Russia denied having hit the monastery.
Russian attack destroys roof of UNESCO-listed monastery in Kiev
Zelensky speaks at the G7
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that the G7 leaders discussed applying new sanctions against Russia during their meeting with him this Tuesday (16) and that they demonstrated their support for Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
Zelensky met with the President of the United States, Donald Trump; the President of France, Emmanuel Macron; UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer; the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni; Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz; and the Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi; as well as the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
The meeting took place behind closed doors, but a French diplomat who declined to be named told the Reuters news agency that the G7 leaders agreed that the dynamics on the battlefield now favor Ukraine and committed to providing Kiev with more air defense resources.
"There was unanimity among all G7 leaders that Russia is not winning the war and need to make a deal as quickly as possible. The G7 discussed sanctions on Russia's energy, banking and military sectors," Zelensky said in an interview with Reuters, adding that he once again pressured his allies for his country's accession to the European Union: "Ukraine needs creative solutions to quickly join the EU or Russia will find ways to prevent admission." war.
Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump in conversation during the g7 summit
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In a post on the social network (...) It is essential that everything discussed is implemented. Russia must learn that its war will never be normalized."
In the early hours of this Thursday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that the country will finance a fourth of the US weapons package with 200 million euros.
*With information from Reuters.

Source: G1