Moscow under attack: 1,100 Ukrainian drones reported as Russia votes

Moscow: More than four and a half years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the war continues to expand beyond the battlefield, with Ukraine launching a major overnight drone attack on Moscow as Russia held the final day of its parliamentary election.

A large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted Moscow and the surrounding region on Sunday, with Russian authorities reporting hundreds of drones intercepted as the country entered the final day of its parliamentary election. An oil refinery in the capital was also hit.

What happened in Moscow?

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defences intercepted 450 drones heading towards the capital during the overnight attack, describing it as unprecedented. Several drones reached the Moscow Oil Refinery, while a residential building was also hit, according to Russian officials. The extent of damage at the refinery was not immediately clear.

Russian officials reported deaths and injuries in the wider Moscow region. Governor Andrei Vorobyov said two people were killed and several others injured in different incidents. A fire at a high-rise building in the Ramensky district led to the evacuation of about 400 people.

The attack also temporarily disrupted flights. Moscow's four major airports — Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky and Sheremetyevo — were placed under temporary flight restrictions before operations resumed.

How many drones were involved?

Russia's Defence Ministry reported that more than 1,100 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across Russia, Crimea and the Black Sea in one account. Other Russian official statements cited more than 1,600 drones intercepted since Saturday, including the 450 reported around Moscow. The differing figures reflect different reporting periods and areas covered by the statements.

Ukraine has not publicly accepted responsibility for the reported attacks, and independent verification of the full scale of the strikes remains difficult during the ongoing war.

Why the attack coincided with Russia's election

The drone assault came on the third and final day of Russia's parliamentary election, which began on September 18. Russian officials, including Sobyanin, accused Ukraine of attempting to disrupt the vote. That allegation has not been independently established.

The election is the first parliamentary vote in Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The political landscape has been heavily restricted, with major anti-war opposition excluded from the contest.

The wider war context

The attack also comes amid continuing strikes against energy infrastructure. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian oil refineries and other facilities, while Russia has continued attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. Reuters reported that the strikes on Russian refining facilities have contributed to disruptions in fuel supplies and higher prices in parts of the country.

The latest attack highlights the growing use of long-range drones far from the main battlefield. Moscow's oil refinery is a significant energy facility, and previous Ukrainian strikes have also targeted Russian refining infrastructure.

The timing adds another layer because the attack occurred during the final day of Russia's parliamentary election. Russian authorities have portrayed the strikes as an attempt to interfere with voting, while Ukraine has not publicly confirmed responsibility for this particular attack. The election itself has already been accompanied by Russian reports of cyberattacks and other security incidents.