Ukrainian forces launched more than 1,000 drones at targets across Russia overnight, including hundreds aimed at Moscow, Russian officials said on Sunday, as the Kremlin concluded the third and final day of parliamentary elections.
Russian air defence systems reportedly intercepted and shot down more than 1,600 drones, 450 of which were directly targeting Moscow, AFP reported.
According to Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov, two people were killed and 20 others were injured in the drone attack in the Moscow region. The attacks also damaged an oil refinery and a residential building in Moscow.
Moscow's mayor described the wave of drones as the "largest ever" attack on the Russian capital and said there had been damage to a Moscow oil refinery and a residential building.
What Happened?
A fire broke out after a drone struck a 21-storey building, prompting authorities to evacuate around 400 people to safety. However, officials did not provide any information about where the drone had originated.
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According to officials, a bus was also targeted by a drone in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine's southern Kherson region. Two people, including a member of the election commission, were killed in the attack.
More Than 1,600 Drones Intercepted
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that more than 1,600 drones had been intercepted and shot down, including 450 that were targeting Moscow. He accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere with the three-day election.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, "The attack was clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections. The enemy failed to achieve this."
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Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also said that a facility located within the premises of the Moscow Oil Refinery had been damaged. There have been no reports of casualties so far, and emergency services are at the scene.
What Ukrainian President Said
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described it as a major blow to Russia's war budget. He said the attack was part of Kyiv's campaign to destroy Russia's energy infrastructure, through which Russia finances its military operations.
Zelenskyy wrote on X, "These are billions of dollars that sustain the war machine," Zelenskyy said, referring to the financial pressure that Kyiv hopes to put on Russia's economy.
This development comes as voting is underway in Russia's first wartime parliamentary election — balloting that has been virtually devoid of opposition to President Vladimir Putin's policies and is all but certain to cement the Kremlin's dominance.