(MOSCOW) – Ukraine has conducted a series of successful strikes on targets within the Moscow region, reportedly using drones and, for the first time, its new FP-7 Pelican ballistic missile. The attacks, which occurred overnight, targeted the Kapotnya oil refinery and a large warehouse complex in the Moscow suburb of Sofino.
The Kapotnya refinery, the largest in the Moscow region, was struck multiple times. Footage from the scene shows significant damage to the facility. This marks the second major attack on the refinery this year; previous reports suggested repairs from an earlier strike would not be completed until next year. The facility has a refining capacity of 11 to 12 million tons annually and supplies 35 to 40 per cent of Moscow’s fuel market. Its location, well within Moscow’s air defence zone, which is heavily fortified with S-300 and S-400 batteries, Pantsir systems, and electronic warfare equipment, makes the successful strikes a notable embarrassment for Russian forces.
In a separate attack, a warehouse complex operated by Modern Warehouse Technologies was also hit by drones. The complex, covering 290,000 square metres, was reportedly completely destroyed. The reason for targeting this specific site remains unclear.
A significant development in the attack was the confirmation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the FP-7 Pelican ballistic missile was used for the first time. Wreckage of an unidentified missile was initially thought to be a Ukrainian Flamingo or a Russian air defence missile, but was later identified as the Pelican. The successful use of this new weapon system suggests Ukraine now possesses a potent new long-range strike capability.
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