(MOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION) – Satellite imagery has revealed extensive damage to the Moscow Oil Refinery following a large-scale Ukrainian drone strike, with at least nine confirmed impacts recorded across the facility and surrounding infrastructure.
The imagery, shared by open-source intelligence analyst Atlas on social media, shows nine distinct impact sites: eight at the oil refinery and one at a nearby warehouse operated by the Alpla Group. The warehouse shown burning in the satellite imagery is separate from a technology centre confirmed hit the previous day, located in close proximity to the refinery.
The Russian Ministry of Defence initially claimed that only one drone struck the refinery and one hit a warehouse. However, the satellite imagery contradicts this account, showing widespread destruction across multiple sections of the facility.
Analysis of Google Maps imagery of the refinery identifies seven distinct areas of impact. Section one shows four large oil tanks completely destroyed, which could indicate four individual drone strikes or a combination of drone and Pantsir air defence system impacts. The Pantsir system has a documented track record of causing unintended damage, including a notable incident earlier this year when an oil tank lid was launched into the air by a misfiring interceptor.
Section two reveals two large oil tanks destroyed. While the Google Maps imagery is several years old and shows the tanks in poor condition, Ukrainian forces would not waste drones on decommissioned equipment, suggesting the tanks remained in active use by Russia.
Section three, identified as the fuel loading area where fuel is transferred to tankers, sustained a direct hit. This section contains a network of pipes, oil tanks and three structures designed for tanker access, representing a critical component of the facility’s operations.
Section four shows a structure that appeared to be under construction at the time of the Google Maps capture. The current status of this structure remains unclear, though its absence from satellite imagery suggests it has been destroyed.
Additional strikes targeted a connecting pipeline, which shows heavy fire damage and signs of severe destruction, and a warehouse located outside the refinery perimeter. The warehouse strike could indicate either an interceptor drone or a misfiring Pantsir system.
A shopping centre also sustained a glancing blow. The Pantsir system, which appeared to intercept everything except the drones during the attack, reportedly struck a civilian vehicle. The vehicle shows what appears to be carbon fibre unwinding from its structure, according to analysis from social media users.
The Pantsir air defence system intercepted more civilian vehicles than Ukrainian drones during the strike.
Ukraine has clarified that the weapon used in the attack was a new type of drone, not the FP7 Pelican ballistic missile as initially suggested. The confirmed debut of the FP7 ballistic missile remains pending.
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