Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that Ukraine carried out what he described as the “largest ever” drone attack on Moscow on the third and final day of Russia’s parliamentary elections. More than 1,000 unmanned aerial vehicles were launched, resulting in at least two fatalities and significant damage to the Gazpromneft-Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district.

Election Day Targeted

Sobyanin linked the assault directly to the election, stating that the enemy “clearly planned” the strike to disrupt the voting process. “The enemy did not succeed,” he added, emphasizing that the election continued despite the attacks.

Casualties and Damage

The governor of the Moscow region, Andrey Vorobiev, reported two deaths and 20 injuries, including three children, from the drone barrage. One of the drones struck a residential building, while several reached the refinery, causing operational setbacks.

Ukrainian Response

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the operation in a Telegram post, noting that the targeted facilities generate “billions of dollars that sustain the war machine.” He did not reference the Russian election in his statement.

Russian Defense Claims

The Russian Ministry of Defense said it intercepted and destroyed 1,110 Ukrainian drones and other unmanned systems overnight. Sobyanin added that more than 1,600 drones have been shot down across Russia since Saturday, with 450 heading toward the capital.

Reciprocal Strikes

While Moscow dealt with the drone onslaught, Ukrainian regions continued to experience Russian attacks. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv regional military administration, reported that Russian strikes killed three children and one woman overnight. Zelensky later disclosed that Russia launched over 2,000 attack drones, 1,700 aerial bombs, and 19 missiles against Ukraine in the same week.

Implications for the Election

Russia’s first parliamentary elections since the full‑scale invasion began in 2022 are proceeding with United Russia, President Vladimir Putin’s party, expected to secure a decisive victory amid an absence of credible opposition. The attacks underscore the ongoing conflict’s ability to reach deep into Russian territory, even as the nation conducts its electoral process.

International Context

The incident highlights the escalating use of drone warfare in the Russia‑Ukraine conflict and raises questions about the security of critical infrastructure during political events. Analysts note that the scale of the attack marks a new level of aggression, potentially influencing future military and diplomatic calculations on both sides.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.