Ukraine Strikes Moscow Refineries as Trump Urges De-escalation

Ukrainian forces launched the largest drone operation of the war against Moscow and surrounding regions on September 20, 2026, coinciding with the final day of Russia's State Duma elections. Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the strikes targeted the Gazprom Neft-owned Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district and other logistics facilities. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that approximately 1,600 drones were intercepted, with 450 targeting the capital, resulting in at least three deaths and 20 injuries. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine claimed the campaign disabled over 45% of Russia's oil refining capacity.

Simultaneously, the Russian military conducted UAV strikes across 10 Ukrainian regions, targeting military supply chains, ports in Odesa and Izmail, and civilian infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv. These attacks killed at least eight people and damaged a university and shopping mall.

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the ongoing conflict as "ridiculous and never ending," claiming Russia has "lost control" of its diesel industry. Trump urged Zelenskyy to halt refinery attacks, citing their contribution to record-high U.S. diesel prices. Despite reports that Ukraine had promised to cease such strikes, the Moscow operation proceeded. Zelenskyy and Trump are scheduled to meet in New York City on Tuesday during the UN General Assembly to discuss de-escalation and security issues.