Politics
Ukraine Launches ‘Largest Ever’ Drone Attack On Moscow Ahead Of Russian Elections
Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale attack using drones and missiles against Moscow and the surrounding region overnight into Sunday morning.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the wave of incoming drones as the “largest ever” attack on the Russian capital. The operation coincided with the third and final day of Russia’s parliamentary elections.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported that its forces intercepted and destroyed 1,110 Ukrainian drones overnight across the country, as well as over Crimea and the Black Sea. Sobyanin stated that more than 1,600 drones had been shot down since Saturday, including 450 heading toward Moscow.
Several drones reached the territory of the Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district, damaging a facility there, Sobyanin said.
Ukrainian General Staff identified the Gazpromneft-Moscow Oil Refinery as the main target of the operation. A logistics facility and warehouse in the Moscow region were also struck. One drone hit a residential building in the capital, while Sobyanin reported no fatalities in the city itself.
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. The systems used included FP-1, RZ-100,… pic.twitter.com/ka5mlDSgb7
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 20, 2026
Moscow region Governor Andrei Vorobyov said two people were killed in the wider region, including a 74-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman. Twenty people were injured, including three children.
Authorities evacuated 400 residents, including 70 children, from a 21-story apartment building in the Ramenskoye district following a fire on the roof. Additional fires affected residential buildings and a warehouse complex in Sofyino and other districts. Temporary restrictions were introduced at Moscow-area airports, grounding more than 30 flights.
He added that several drones reached the refinery premises and one struck a residential building.
“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,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He listed systems used in the operation, including FP-1, RZ-100, MICH-2000, Palianytsia, Vendetta, Liutyi, Bars, Flamingo, Sichen, and Pelican missiles and drones. The operation involved Ukraine’s Security Service, Unmanned Systems Forces, Special Operations Forces, Defence Intelligence, and Foreign Intelligence Service.
Zelenskyy also reported a strike on a facility in Voronezh region. “Moscow should not be building layered rings of air defense at the expense of other regions, but should end its brutal war and choose peace,” he added.
