Moscow endured an unprecedented drone attack on the final day of Russia’s parliamentary elections. Russian authorities reported that hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles targeted the capital and surrounding regions, with some breaching air defenses. Among the impacted sites was Moscow’s oil refinery, where a fire broke out following a direct hit.
Russian officials blamed Ukraine for the assault. Kyiv did not immediately confirm its involvement.
Hundreds of drones over Moscow
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the overnight barrage as the largest drone raid on the Russian capital since the start of the war.
According to Russian figures, air defenses intercepted more than 1,600 drones in a broader series of strikes, with about 450 reportedly heading directly toward Moscow.
Nevertheless, some drones managed to reach the city itself.
Photos and video taken in Moscow showed smoke over parts of the metropolis and emergency services at the scene.
Refinery among targets struck
One of the most significant targets hit was the oil refinery in Moscow.
Following the strike, thick smoke was seen rising over the industrial facility and Russian officials reported a fire had erupted.
The Moscow refinery is a key supplier of fuel to the capital and its surrounding regions.
The exact extent of the damage and the impact on ongoing operations at the site was not immediately clear.
Aktualizovane.sk had earlier provided detailed coverage of the record-breaking raid, noting that both the refinery and residential buildings were among the targets.
Attack results in casualties
The most severe consequences were reported in the Moscow region.
According to local officials, at least three people were killed in the drone strikes.
Residential buildings were also damaged. In the Ramensky district, authorities evacuated hundreds of residents, including children, after a high-rise building was hit.
Russian emergency crews continued to search damaged sites and clear debris.
Strike coincided with final day of elections
The large-scale attack took place as Russians completed voting in elections to the State Duma.
Russian leaders claimed the assault was aimed at disrupting the election process, but no independent confirmation of such intent was provided.
This parliamentary election was the first State Duma vote since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The ruling United Russia party remained the dominant political force, though conditions for political competition in Russia have long drawn criticism from opposition groups and international observers.
Energy infrastructure increasingly targeted
The Moscow attack is part of a broader trend of strikes against Russia’s fuel sector.
In recent months, Ukrainian drones have repeatedly targeted refineries, fuel depots, and other facilities deep inside Russian territory.
Several large plants have been forced to scale back production as a result.
Kyiv has argued these strikes are justified because Russia’s energy sector provides revenue and fuel crucial to its war effort.
Moscow, in turn, characterizes the strikes on its energy infrastructure as an escalation of the conflict.
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The scale of the attack demonstrates that long-range drones are capable, even in the face of extensive air defenses, of reaching key targets in the heart of the Russian capital.
Authorities continue to assess the damage to both the refinery and residential properties. The precise number of drones that successfully broke through Russian air defenses and hit their objectives has not yet been independently confirmed.
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
