Ukraine conducted a significant missile strike against Moscow and key Russian oil infrastructure on Sunday, deploying its newly unveiled Flamingo cruise missile alongside a large fleet of over 1,000 drones. The attack targeted the Gazpromneft-Moscow Oil Refinery, sparking substantial fires at a facility responsible for producing approximately 11.6 million tons of oil annually, according to Russian data.
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the use of the 6-ton Flamingo missile in the assault, emphasizing its extended range of nearly 2,000 miles, which enables strikes deep into Russian territory, including the capital. Developed primarily within Ukraine by defense startup Fire Point, the Flamingo is touted as more powerful than the U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles. Zelensky highlighted the significance of the attack on X, stating it struck a major oil industry installation and a critical logistics hub supporting Russia's military efforts. He described the economic damage as striking at “billions of dollars that sustain the war machine.”
The Flamingo missile was previously used in February to hit the Kremlin-controlled Votkinsk machine plant, located about 860 miles inside Russia. Its production was first publicly confirmed in August 2025, with Zelensky describing the 40-foot missile—named for the pink glow observed in prototype testing—as potentially Ukraine’s most effective missile to date. During Sunday’s operation, the Flamingo was deployed alongside the new Pelican ballistic missile, designed for shorter-range but higher-speed attacks to saturate Russian defenses and allow longer-range weapons to penetrate.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin characterized the overnight strike as the largest attack on the Russian capital since the conflict began and acknowledged serious damage to the targeted oil refinery. Local authorities reported at least two fatalities and 20 injuries in the greater Moscow area, with Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov confirming casualties linked to the assault.
The strike coincided with Russian-organized voting in five Ukrainian regions currently under Russian military occupation, including the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Sobyanin suggested the attacks aimed to disrupt the voting process, which he claimed was unsuccessful.
Ukrainian officials have increasingly focused on targeting Russian oil infrastructure, aiming to degrade Moscow’s capacity to fund its military operations. These strikes have contributed to fuel shortages, increased fuel prices, and long queues at gas stations across various parts of Russia. U.S. officials have indicated that such attacks are also affecting global oil markets, which remain sensitive due to broader geopolitical tensions, including ongoing conflict in Iran.