On the concluding day of Russia’s parliamentary elections, Ukraine executed a large-scale drone assault on Moscow and its surrounding areas, resulting in at least three fatalities and significant damage to an oil refinery, as reported by Russian authorities.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin disclosed that over 1,600 drones had been intercepted since the onset of the attack on Saturday, with approximately 450 of these targeting the capital. Despite interception efforts, several drones managed to reach the Moscow Oil Refinery, and a residential building in the Moscow region suffered damage.
The attacks led to casualties within the Moscow region, prompting the evacuation of around 400 residents from a compromised 21-storey apartment complex. Emergency response teams were deployed to manage the affected zones and assess the damage.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the drone strikes were aimed at critical Russian energy and logistics infrastructure. Ukraine has increasingly employed long-range drones and locally manufactured weapons to strike deep within Russian territory, with a particular focus on energy facilities.
The incident occurred as Russia was wrapping up its first parliamentary election since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russian officials accused Ukraine of attempting to disrupt the electoral process, even as Kyiv persisted in its efforts against Russian military and energy targets.