Ukraine Uses Pelican Ballistic Missile in Massive Strike on Moscow Refinery

Ukrainian defense forces used the new Pelican (FP-7) ballistic missile for the first time during a major strike against targets in the Moscow region, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday, Sept. 20. “Long-range responses worked very noticeably in the Moscow region tonight. Key oil industry and logistics facilities supporting the aggressor’s war machine were hit,” Zelensky said in a statement on Telegram.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Special Operations Forces (SSO), the Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS), the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), and the Foreign Intelligence Service (SZRU) jointly conducted the operation. Zelensky added that weapons used in the attack included the FP-1, RZ-100, MICH-2000, Palianytsia, Vendetta, Liutyi, Bars, Flamingo, Sichnevyi, and Pelican systems. Ukrainian forces also targeted an enterprise in Russia’s Voronezh region. “Moscow should stop building layered air defense rings at the expense of other regions and instead end its cruel war and choose peace,” Zelensky said. What facilities were damaged in the Moscow attack? The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed hitting the Gazprom Neft Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district, roughly 15 kilometers from the Kremlin. According to the General Staff, long-range strikes hit the AVT-6 primary crude processing unit, an integrated oil refining unit, and an isomerization unit, sparking a large fire across the plant. Long-range Alpha drones from the SBU flew over 500 kilometers to breach Russian air defenses and strike the facility. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine, Russia, Hard to Reconcile on Black Sea, Turkish Minister Says Turkey is seeking to mediate between Russia and Ukraine to stop the targeting of shipping in the Black Sea. The Moscow Oil Refinery processes more than 11.6 million metric tons of crude oil annually, supplying roughly 35 to 40 percent of the fuel needs for Moscow and up to 70 percent of gasoline and aviation kerosene used across the wider Moscow region. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed Russian air defense units intercepted over 1,600 drones across all lines, including about 450 heading toward Moscow, calling the barrage the most massive Ukrainian drone assault on the capital to date. Geolocated footage verified by independent media confirmed an extensive fire at the refining complex. Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov reported at least two deaths and six injuries in the surrounding province. Additionally, Ukrainian defense technology firm Fire Point confirmed that FP-1 attack drones destroyed a commercial storage complex operated by Modern Warehouse Technologies in Sofyino, within the Ramensky district. Tymur Dubovyk - journalist, newsfeed editor