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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the attacks, saying: “Our long-range responses had a very significant impact in the Moscow region last night.”
Russian authorities reported that a large number of drones had been shot down while approaching the capital. (X)
At least two people were killed and a major refinery damaged after hundreds of drones targeted Moscow and the surrounding region on Sunday, authorities said, as Russia held the final day of its parliamentary elections.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said more than 1,600 drones had been intercepted and shot down, including 450 that were headed towards the capital.
He accused Ukraine of trying to disrupt the tightly controlled three-day election, which is expected to further strengthen President Vladimir Putin’s 26-year grip on power.
“The unprecedented attack was clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections. The enemy did not succeed,” he said on Telegram.
Zelenskyy Says Strikes Hit Key Russian Facilities
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the attacks, saying: “Our long-range responses had a very significant impact in the Moscow region last night.”
“One of Russia’s key oil industry facilities and the aggressor’s logistics facility were hit. These are billions of dollars that sustain the war machine,” he posted on X.
At A Glance
Russia reported a large-scale drone attack on Moscow on Sunday.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed damage to a facility at the Moscow Oil Refinery.
Russian authorities reported that 186 drones were shot down near Moscow.
The country’s election authority stated parliamentary election turnout reached 44.58% as of 11 pm Saturday GMT.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied plans to mobilize 300,000 people by year-end.
Moscow regional Governor Andrey Vorobyov said at least two people were killed at separate locations. The victims were identified as a 44-year-old woman and an elderly man.
A drone crashing into a 21-storey building also sparked a fire and resulted in the evacuation of 400 people, Vorobyov said. He did not specify where the drones had originated.
Moscow Refinery Damaged In Latest Drone Strike
The attacks came as Kyiv intensified its long-range drone campaign against Russia in recent months, particularly targeting energy infrastructure that provides a key source of revenue for the Kremlin’s war effort.
“A facility on the territory of the Moscow Oil Refinery has been damaged, Sobyanin added, noting that no casualties had been reported so far and that emergency services were on the scene.
The major refinery has been targeted in Ukrainian strikes in recent months.
The latest attack followed US President Donald Trump’s statement on Monday that Ukraine and Russia had agreed not to target each other’s energy facilities.
Drone Strikes Overshadow Russia’s Parliamentary Poll
The latest strikes coincided with Russia’s first parliamentary election since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands.
Voting began on Friday and continued for three days, with Russians casting ballots on the final day, Sunday.
Only parties backing Putin and the Kremlin’s military campaign have been registered to contest the election. Moscow has also organised voting in occupied Ukraine.
While few Russians doubt that Putin’s United Russia party will secure another victory, the election is also being viewed as a measure of public support for the war.
(With inputs from AFP)
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Ask News18Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that more than 1,600 drones were intercepted and shot down during the attack, which included 450 drones targeted specifically at the capital.
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September 20, 2026, 1:25 PM IST
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