On the closing day of Russia’s parliamentary elections, Ukraine carried out a significant drone assault targeting Moscow and its surrounding regions, resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals and inflicting damage on an oil refinery, according to Russian officials.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that over 1,600 drones had been intercepted since the start of the attacks on Saturday, with approximately 450 heading toward the capital. Some drones managed to reach the Moscow Oil Refinery, while a residential structure in the Moscow area was also impacted. The assault led to casualties in the Moscow region and necessitated the evacuation of around 400 residents from a 21-story apartment building that sustained damage.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the strikes were aimed at crucial Russian energy and logistics infrastructures. Ukraine has increasingly utilized long-range drones and domestically manufactured weapons to launch attacks deep within Russian territory, specifically targeting energy facilities.
The drone attack coincided with Russia’s completion of its first parliamentary election since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russian authorities accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere with the electoral process. Meanwhile, Kyiv has continued its strategic campaign against Russian military and energy targets.
Emergency services were promptly deployed to the affected areas to manage the fallout from the attacks and assist those impacted. The ongoing tensions between the two nations continue to escalate, as Ukraine intensifies its efforts to strike at key Russian infrastructures.