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Ukraine targeted a refinery in Moscow, roughly 15 km from the Kremlin.
The strike served as retaliation for harm to the cathedral in Kyiv, according to Ukrainian statements.
One third of Russia refinery capacity stands idle, potentially leading to the nation largest fuel shortage on record.
Another Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber went down.
Maps of the day: Contrasts between Rybar reports and Russian command views versus actual conditions.
Videos of the day: A combat drone fails to intercept a Geran, while a helicopter reveals Ukrainian defenses.

Moscow residents ought to visit fuel stations promptly while supplies remain available. This advice came from the Ukrainian account Bakhmut Demon in reaction to footage from the capital on Tuesday morning.

Even with strengthened air defenses featuring additional Pantsir units, Ukrainian long-range drones reached central Moscow on Tuesday morning. Mentions included FP-1 and Lutyj models. Locals observed several crossing the vast city unimpeded from their high-rises.

The primary objective was the Moscow refinery, situated approximately 15 km from the Kremlin. Daylight conditions allowed clear recording of a drone striking the complex directly.

Russian mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that security forces had intercepted at least 60 Ukrainian drones.

Yet some succeeded.

Ukrainians appear to have located a gap in the defenses. As Radio Liberty journalist Mark Krutov noted, no Pantsir system stood near the Moscow refinery, despite recent placements on towers and buildings throughout the city.

"The structure for the Pantsir was erected near the Moscow oil refinery only recently, in mid-June, and as of 14 June it lacked the system itself. The closest other Pantsir position sits nearly five km distant," Krutov observed.

Whether the Gazprom-owned refinery received protection from alternative systems remains unclear, but the absence of a Pantsir at this site stands out. The facility had faced prior Ukrainian strikes in 2024.

Russian Z-blogger Alexander Kots offered a contrasting view, describing the operation as largely unsuccessful for Ukraine with Russian defenses performing effectively, as only one drone penetrated in his assessment.

"Contrast this with yesterday attacks on Kyiv - dozens of our missiles and drones struck military-industrial sites. Russia holds a clear advantage in the 'war of capitals'," he stated.

This holds true, as Russians continue to inflict greater damage on the Ukrainian capital with relative ease. Ukrainians struggle particularly against ballistic missiles, though their interception rate for cruise missiles and drones exceeds 90 percent currently. From another angle, back in February 2022 Russians likely never foresaw witnessing refineries ablaze in their fortified capital.

The operation occurred one day after Russian Geran drones struck the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Ukraine oldest Orthodox monastery, per Ukrainian reports. This marked the first such hit on this historic Unesco-listed site.

Russians promptly asserted on Monday that a Ukrainian Patriot missile caused the damage. Some bloggers later proposed the fire originated internally. The pro-Russian account Yuriy Podolyaka shared an aerial image claiming it showed no direct Geran impact.

Yet Ukrainians released images on Monday of Geran fragments recovered from the cathedral area. Polish journalist Piotr Kaszuwara verified this.

"A Russian Geran-2 drone impacted the Pechersk Lavra. Unless these are not its pieces, I am a Bengali princess," he remarked.

Ukrainians framed Tuesday Moscow strike as direct retaliation for the Lavra incident. "This constitutes a fitting reply to Russian assaults," President Volodymyr Zelensky noted.

Ukraine Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert Brovdy, known as Magyar, confirmed the retaliatory intent. Ukrainians inscribed messages on the drones sent to Moscow, including "The Lavra will endure for centuries, Moscow will fall."

"Fuel blasts rather than outbursts of rage - a measured response free of sentiment or excess," Magyar added.

The Moscow refinery, referred to as Kapotnya after its southeastern district, ranks among the country ten largest. It handles 12 million tons of oil annually. It supplies 40 percent of petrol and 50 percent of diesel used in the capital.

Bloggers indicated the drone struck the ELOU AVT-6 primary processing unit, a critical component. Nevertheless, at nine in the morning the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry declared the fire contained and operations unaffected. The visible blaze and impact on such a vital unit make this assertion difficult to accept.

Reports of fuel purchase limits have emerged in Moscow and across Russia. As the Kyiv Post noted over the weekend, restrictions apply at certain stations in multiple regions, including Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Tatneft outlets, for instance, cap petrol at 20 liters and diesel at 40 liters. Rosneft and Lukoil have enacted comparable limits in the capital.

Russia faces a significant fuel shortage overall. Energy Intelligence highlighted this in analysis last week.

"The Ukrainian focus on Russia energy infrastructure, particularly oil-processing and distribution sites, has inflicted substantial harm, positioning the country for what may become its most severe fuel crisis this summer," the report concluded.

According to the analysis, one third of Russia oil-refining capacity was offline in early June. Refineries processed four million barrels daily, the lowest figure in 21 years.

"Should Ukrainian drones persist in targeting the refining sector, Russia risks a severe domestic fuel market disruption," the authors stated.

On Monday Russia lost another strategic bomber, a Tu-22M3 (Nato designation Backfire). Though the incident occurred far from the front and was almost certainly accidental, it merits attention given the limited fleet size.

Social media widely shared videos of one bomber diving nose-first in the Irkutsk region of northeastern Siberia. A black smoke plume followed the crash. Such footage remains uncommon, yet multiple angles surfaced this time.

Additional clips later appeared from the crash site itself.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the Tu-22M3 loss. As The War Zone reported, it stated the aircraft crashed during a training flight without weapons, all crew ejected safely, and no ground casualties occurred.

The Russian Z-channel Fighterbomber, typically well-informed on air force matters, confirmed the full crew survived. Navigators were retrieved from water and pilots landed safely on ground.

The Defense Ministry withheld accident details. Fighterbomber reported preliminary findings of one engine failure over the training range and a second during the return flight.

Tu-22M3 bombers play a key role in Russia air operations over Ukraine. They launch cruise missiles, primarily Kh-22 and Kh-32 types, against Ukrainian cities, according to TWZ.

Training accidents happen elsewhere too. On Monday an American B-52 crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, resulting in eight crew fatalities, The War Zone noted.

During conflict, such incidents rise due to aircraft strain. Prior to this, three Russian Tu-22M3 bombers crashed without Ukrainian action - in April 2024, August 2024 and May 2025. This marks the fourth.

"Heavy combat usage combined with aircraft age leads to accumulating technical issues, causing losses of these carriers outside battle," the Russian channel Military Observer stated.

Ukrainians have also destroyed several through direct action. Last year Operation Cobweb targeted these bombers, destroying four and damaging two more, per TWZ. Minor damage to another four remains possible.

Overall, Oryx reports Russia has lost nine Tu-22M3s since the invasion began, with three more damaged.

This represents a notable toll. The War Zone indicates Russia may retain around 50 in active service.

These aircraft have not seen production for decades. With limited numbers, prior losses, and their wartime role, each incident carries weight. Video documentation adds further significance, as occurred here.

Maps of the day

Russian official and unofficial sources appear to produce frontline maps increasingly removed from facts. The account Vitaliy observed that the Rybar channel map diverged markedly from the Ukrainian DeepState UA depiction of the front.

This involves a sector east of Velyka Novosilka. Rybar often aligns its maps with Russian army claims. Any village with a Russian soldier and flag counts as Russian-held territory.

Ukrainian command occasionally overstates positions too. Yet in this sector, General Staff maps align with the DeepState UA account.

A leaked map from the Russian command in Zaporizhzhia region recently showed similar detachment from reality when compared to DeepState UA.

Videos of the day

One fighter drone narrowly missed a Russian Geran, though a second - Sting - succeeded.

A Ukrainian Mil Mi-24 helicopter, known as Crocodile, flies low above Ukrainian defenses. Dragon teeth, anti-tank ditches and embankments come into view.

What are the losses

Last updated on Monday (6 June).

As of Monday (6 June), Russia had verifiably lost 23,593 pieces of heavy equipment (23,556 on Monday (1 June)). Of these, 18,585 (18,551) were destroyed by Ukrainians, 982 (979) damaged, 1,199 (1,199) abandoned by crews, and 2,827 (2,827) captured by Ukrainian forces. This includes 4,397 (4,394) tanks, of which 3,300 (3,293) were destroyed in combat.
Ukraine has lost 11,425 (11,397) pieces of equipment, of which 8,888 (8,863) were destroyed, 680 (678) damaged, 670 (669) abandoned and 1,187 (1,187) captured. This includes 1,426 (1,424) tanks, of which 1,091 (1,089) were destroyed in combat.