Muscovites complain about ‘black rain’ falling on their city

©Jaunt and Joy via Unsplash

Moscow was dealing with a dark, ominous sky in the early morning hours.

Following the largest Ukrainian counteroffensive since the start of the Russian invasion, residents of the southeastern Moscow region have discovered “unpleasant black spots” on their clothing. The black oil specks fell from the sky like rain after a refinery was hit during an attack involving nearly 200 drones on the Russian capital.

Columns of thick black smoke rose high into the sky after the Kapotnya refinery in southeast Moscow was hit for the third time in a month and the second time this week. According to local governor Andrei Vorobyov, 17 people were injured in the Moscow region. A nearby shopping center also caught fire after the wreckage of a drone landed on the building.

Moscow residents reported finding black specks on their clothes and hair. “Everyone who stepped out of the apartment complex felt these fine, light droplets falling,” a local woman told the BBC. She noticed “unpleasant black spots” on her clothes and those of her friend. “We’re keeping our hair covered now, or it’ll start falling out because of petroleum products.”

Russian authorities denied that “oil rain” had fallen, but the city’s official Telegram channel did warn residents to keep their windows closed. Families with children, the elderly, and asthma patients were urged to leave the area immediately.

Russian response

The Russian Ministry of Defense said that nearly 1,000 drones and four Ukrainian missiles were intercepted and destroyed across the country. An oil depot in the southern Rostov region was hit, killing one person.

Volodymyr Zelensky said the drone attack was a response to last week’s Russian attack on Kyiv, during which an important religious monument, the Pechersk Lavra monastery, was set on fire. “We do not want this war and have never wanted it,” Zelensky said. “But if Ukraine burns, you will see Moscow burn as well.”

In response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that attacks on Ukraine would be carried out on a “massive scale.”

The four airports in the region surrounding the Russian capital were temporarily closed, and more than 500 flights were canceled or delayed. Vladimir Putin, who is hosting Southeast Asian leaders for a summit in Kazan, has not responded to the large-scale attack on the Russian capital.

On X, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha wrote: “One of the most common questions Muscovites are asking this morning is, ‘What’s going on?’” “I can answer that. Your country started a war of aggression against us. For years, it has been killing our people.” “Now that you know what’s going on, ask Putin when he plans to end this.”

©Jaunt and Joy via Unsplash - illustrative image of Moscow at night