Was huge Moscow oil depot explosion caused by RUSSIAN missile strike? New footage shows Putin troops opening fire in middle of road and a possible misfire hit refinery

By ELIANA SILVER, SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:56, 19 June 2026 | Updated: 15:59, 19 June 2026 Newly surfaced footage appears to show a Russian air-defence missile accidentally striking an oil refinery in Moscow, while a separate video appeared to capture Putin's troops firing from a busy highway as traffic continues to pass.  The videos emerged after Moscow on Thursday was hit by a huge Ukrainian drone attack, that left Russia's capital blanketed in toxic smoke. Scores of drones targeted the city, hitting its oil refinery for the second time this week. One video shared on X showed troops operating Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS) from the middle of a highway in an attempt to intercept Ukrainian drones. Two soldiers are seen firing into the air from the busy Moscow motorway as cars pass and civilians rush by, attempting to flee from danger. And reports from independent Russian media and Ukrainian Telegram channels claim a Chinese tourist captured footage of a missile intercept attempt against a Ukrainian drone bound for the capital's Kapotnya refinery. The video, shared on Chinese platform Douyin, appears to show the air-defence missile missing its target before striking a fuel tank, sending its lid soaring into the air and prompting a huge fire. According to an OSINT analysis by Russian media outlet ASTRA, the footage reveals a characteristic contrail that allowed analysts to track the missile’s trajectory.  One video shared on X showed troops operating Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS) from the middle of a highway The footage appears to then show a Russian defence missile flying past the drone and hitting the fuel tank The hit blew the lid of the oil refinery, promting a huge fire Their findings reportedly indicate that the missile exploded immediately after launch and directly struck the oil storage facility.  Preliminary data suggests the missile was traveling from the northeast, and analysts believe it was fired by a Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and gun system.  Thursday's offensive was Ukraine's largest drone attack on Moscow in years, sparking fires in and around the Russian capital and forcing evacuations at the country's largest airport. Russia's state-controlled TV channels only briefly mentioned the attack, while pro-Kremlin newspapers praised the performance of air defenses, noting that the strike highlighted the need to further strengthen the defensive shield around the capital.  Moscow residents complained of black rain falling from the sky following the attack, which the city's authorities denied.  Dramatic footage shared online appeared to show the chaos unfolding across Moscow, with large columns of black smoke rising over the city's skyline, while drones buzzed overhead. In further footage, bystanders were heard screaming in terror as explosions rang out and what appeared to be a rocket flew overhead, while smoke poured from an apartment block. Kyiv has stepped up its drone strikes on Russia in recent months, hitting oil refineries that fund Moscow's war chest, as diplomatic talks on ending the more than four-year conflict remain stalled. 'Air defence forces are continuing to repel a large-scale attack. Several drones managed to reach the MNPZ (Moscow Oil Refinery),' Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on Telegram, with authorities closing traffic on streets near the refinery. He did not specify damage to the facility, but several Russian media outlets reported that it was on fire. Russia's busiest airport - Moscow's Sheremetyevo - announced it had evacuated passengers to 'safe locations' during the barrage and was restricting flights. Another drone crashed into an apartment building in the Moscow region district of Zhukovsky, while drone debris sparked a fire at a shopping centre near the capital's suburbs, Moscow region governor Andrey Vorobyov said. Russian air defences shot down 180 drones on approach to Moscow, Sobyanin said, while the Russian defence ministry reported it had intercepted more than 500 Ukrainian drones overnight. The attack was the largest on Moscow in at least two years, Russia's state TASS news agency reported. 'One of the most popular questions asked by Muscovites this morning is "What is going on?"' Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X. 'I can answer. Your country started a war of aggression against ours.  'For years, it has been killing our people. Now that you know what's going on, ask Putin when he is planning to end it.' The refinery is one of Russia's biggest, according to its website, producing more than a third of the Moscow region's fuel. It was last attacked by Ukraine on Tuesday, but officials said that fire was swiftly put out. Thursday's fire at the refinery was 'largely contained,' Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said hours afterward, adding that remaining hotspots were being extinguished. A Ukrainian drone appears to head in the direction of the oil refinery Moscow residents complained of black rain falling from the sky following the attack, which the city's authorities denied It was Ukraine's largest drone attack on Moscow in years, sparking fires in and around the Russian capital After the strikes on Moscow, Zelensky said: 'If Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn' Zelensky held talks on Thursday in Brussels with Nato and European Union leaders, and the German and Ukrainian defense ministers signed an agreement to jointly develop an air defense system to counter ballistic missiles. He described it as the start of an 'anti-ballistic missile coalition' and invited others to join.  Zelensky called on Europe and the United States to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions on Russia's defence and energy sectors and broader economy to force President Vladimir Putin into ending the war.  'Everyone needs to put pressure on Putin: Ukrainians, absolutely all the Europeans, Americans, and Russians - it's time to sober up and put pressure on your leader,' he said.  After the strikes on Moscow, Zelensky said: 'We don't want this war, we never did, and everyone knows it, and our partners know it.' 'But if Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn.'  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. 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