Investigations suggest the object was actually an oil tank lid blown into the air by the explosion. A Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow's main oil refinery has fuelled an unexpected online mystery after footage circulating on social media appeared to show a strange object flying high above the facility moments after an explosion. The videos quickly prompted speculation among some observers that a UFO had been spotted over Moscow during the latest wave of Ukrainian drone strikes. Several eyewitness accounts and online posts pointed to a large object seen rising above the refinery amid flames and smoke. However, a closer examination of the footage suggests the object was not a UFO at all. Analysts reviewing the video believe the object was most likely the lid or floating roof section of an oil storage tank that was violently ejected into the air after a powerful blast inside the refinery complex. The incident unfolded after Ukrainian drones struck Moscow's oil refinery in the Kapotnya district for the second time in a week, causing fresh fires and further disruption to operations. The unusual shape and trajectory of the object initially led many viewers to speculate about its origins. Videos shared online showed what appeared to be a large disc-shaped object rising rapidly above the refinery before disappearing into smoke and darkness. The footage quickly spread across social media platforms, generating claims that a UFO had appeared during the attack. Industrial safety experts, however, note that large oil storage tanks are often fitted with floating roofs or heavy metal covers designed to manage pressure and reduce vapour emissions. When a significant explosion occurs inside a storage tank, these structures can be blown hundreds of metres into the air. Similar incidents have been documented during refinery accidents and fuel depot explosions around the world. The object's size, movement and location within the refinery complex strongly indicate it was part of the damaged infrastructure rather than an aircraft or unidentified phenomenon. The incident comes amid a sustained Ukrainian campaign targeting Russian energy facilities far from the frontline. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defence systems were responding to a large-scale drone attack and acknowledged that several drones had reached the Moscow oil refinery. Russian authorities reported that traffic was halted near the facility and that damage was also recorded at residential and commercial locations around the capital. The refinery had already reportedly suspended operations after an earlier strike earlier in the week. The latest attack is expected to further complicate fuel supplies at a time when Russia is grappling with growing pressure on its refining capacity. Russian officials claimed that air defence systems intercepted hundreds of drones overnight across multiple regions, though those figures could not be independently verified. Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine reported casualties and infrastructure damage from cross-border drone and missile attacks, underscoring the increasingly long-range nature of the conflict. While the refinery strike has intensified concerns over Russia's energy infrastructure, the most unusual legacy of the attack may be the brief online frenzy over what many initially believed was a UFO over Moscow — a mystery that appears to have been solved by a flying oil tank lid. Yuvraj Tyagi is a Senior Copy Editor, specializing in security, national, international and defense affairs. With extensive experience covering the Ka... View More