Ukraine carried out a major drone attack targeting areas including the Moscow region as Russia entered the final phase of its parliamentary elections, according to reports from both Ukrainian and Russian officials.
Scale of the Attack
The strikes took place overnight from September 19 to 20, 2026. Russian authorities described it as one of the largest Ukrainian drone assaults of the conflict.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that more than 1,600 drones had been intercepted, including around 450 approaching the capital.
Russian defence officials reported intercepting a high number of drones and some cruise missiles across multiple regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that long-range drones and other systems had struck key infrastructure, including oil industry and logistics facilities in the Moscow region. He described the operation as having a “very significant impact.”
A major oil refinery on the outskirts of Moscow (Gazpromneft-Moscow Refinery) was damaged, with fires reported.
At least two to three people were killed in the Moscow region, according to regional officials, with additional injuries reported. Some residential buildings were also affected, leading to evacuations.
Casualties were also reported in areas under Russian control, including parts of the Kherson region.
Russian officials accused Ukraine of attempting to disrupt the tightly controlled three-day parliamentary elections. Sobyanin said the attack “was clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections” but claimed it did not succeed.
The attack occurred during the first State Duma elections since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ukraine has intensified long-range strikes on Russian energy and military-related infrastructure in recent months as part of its broader campaign.
Both sides continue to exchange long-range drone and missile attacks. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing assessments of the damage and further military responses expected.