Two people were killed and a Moscow refinery damaged in a major Ukrainian drone attack as Russia’s parliamentary election entered its final day.
Two Killed in Major Ukrainian Drone Attack on Moscow
At least two people have been killed and a major oil refinery damaged after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted Moscow and the surrounding region, Russian officials said. The attack came as Russia’s three-day parliamentary election entered its final day, adding further tension to an already volatile situation.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defence systems had intercepted more than 1,600 drones during the latest wave of attacks. He said around 450 of the drones were heading toward Moscow.
Moscow regional Governor Andrey Vorobyov said a 44-year-old woman and an elderly man were killed in two separate incidents. A drone crash also caused a fire at a 21-storey residential building, forcing the evacuation of about 400 residents.
The attack also damaged part of the Moscow oil refinery, according to Sobyanin. Emergency crews were sent to the facility to deal with the damage and assess the situation.
The Moscow refinery has previously been targeted in Ukrainian drone strikes. Ukraine has increasingly used long-range drones against Russian energy facilities, military infrastructure and logistics sites during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Russian officials accused Ukraine of attempting to disrupt the country’s parliamentary election through the large-scale drone offensive. Sobyanin described the attack as unprecedented in scale but said Russian authorities had prevented the attackers from achieving their alleged objective.
Ukraine Claims Damage to Russian Energy Infrastructure
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the latest strikes and said Ukraine’s long-range attacks had caused significant damage in the Moscow region.
Zelenskyy said a major Russian oil industry facility and a logistics site had been hit. He argued that attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure could reduce revenues used to support the country’s military campaign against Ukraine.
Ukraine has stepped up its long-range drone campaign in recent months, particularly against oil refineries and other energy-related facilities. Kyiv has argued that these targets are important to Russia’s ability to finance and maintain its war effort.
The latest attack was described by officials as one of the largest drone assaults on Russia since the full-scale war began. The scale of the reported drone interceptions also highlights the growing intensity of long-range attacks between Russia and Ukraine.
Drone Attack Reported in Russian-Occupied Kherson
Another deadly incident was reported in a Russian-occupied area of Ukraine’s Kherson region. Russia’s Central Election Commission said a drone attack on a civilian bus killed two people, including an election official.
The incident was reported as voting continued during the final day of Russia’s parliamentary election. Russian authorities have previously reported security incidents and attacks affecting areas under Moscow’s control.
The timing of the attacks has drawn particular attention because they occurred on the final and most politically significant day of Russia’s three-day election.
Russian Drone Attacks Kill Four in Kyiv Region
While Moscow faced a major Ukrainian drone offensive, Ukraine also reported another wave of Russian drone attacks across its territory.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 138 drones of various types overnight. Ukrainian air defence systems reportedly destroyed or intercepted 101 of them.
At least four people were killed in attacks in the Kyiv region, including a woman and her two three-year-old children, according to Ukrainian emergency authorities.
Officials said a Russian drone struck a residential property, killing the woman and both children. Another girl later died in hospital following a separate drone attack in the region.
Kyiv region officials said the area experienced attacks for more than 24 hours, damaging at least 31 sites across five districts.
The Fastiv district in southwestern Kyiv region suffered the most extensive damage. Officials reported damage to residential buildings, industrial and utility facilities, vehicles and an agricultural enterprise.
Russia-Ukraine Drone War Intensifies
The latest attacks demonstrate the continuing escalation of long-range drone warfare between Russia and Ukraine.
Both countries have increasingly relied on drones to strike targets far from the front lines. Russia has repeatedly launched large drone attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, while Ukraine has expanded its ability to target Russian territory.
For civilians in both countries, the continuing attacks have brought air raid warnings, property damage, casualties and disruption to daily life.
The latest strikes also occurred against the backdrop of Russia’s parliamentary election, making the timing politically significant. Whether the attacks influence public sentiment or voter behaviour remains uncertain.
As the Russia-Ukraine war continues, both sides are expected to maintain pressure through long-range drone and missile attacks, particularly against military, energy and logistics infrastructure.
