air defense

Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Moscow on 20 September, with over 1,600 drones. The Moscow Oil Refinery was hit, damaging a key unit and causing a major fire, while a residential building strike killed at least two. The attack, using multiple Ukrainian long-range weapons, is part of a coordinated campaign against Russian energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian drone attacks hit the Moscow oil refinery (supplying 40% of the capital's fuel) and the Yaroslavl refinery (Yanos) within four days, knocking out key distillation units. The strikes disrupt fuel supplies for Russia's military and civilian economy, part of a sustained campaign to degrade Russian refining capacity.

The US has approved the transfer of 10 Patriot interceptor missiles from Germany to Ukraine and a potential $2.68 billion air defence equipment sale. However, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker says insufficient production capacity is the main obstacle, with demand exceeding supply under the PURL programme.

Ukrainian forces used a RAM-2X drone to destroy a $100 million Nebo-M radar near Millerovo airfield. The strike is part of a sustained campaign since late August hitting S-400 systems, radar, EW, and logistics targets inside Russia and occupied Crimea.

EU ministers agreed on a Lebanon support mission but remain split on settlement trade sanctions and air defence for Ukraine. Poland says it will not block Ukraine’s EU accession talks.

Drones attacked Moscow and Yaroslavl Oblast on 28 August, forcing the closure of a major motorway and triggering Russian air defenses. The strike fits a pattern of deeper Ukrainian drone operations targeting infrastructure, fuel terminals, and chemical plants.

Ukrainian forces struck a Russian radar station and S-400 command vehicle in Bryansk Oblast, a communications hub in Belgorod, and logistics warehouses in Crimea, Luhansk, and Kursk on 30-31 August. On 3 September, the Navy hit a Russian support vessel in Sochi port. Russia reported 1,390 daily casualties.