Moscow and the surrounding region were hit overnight by one of the largest drone attacks since the start of the war in Ukraine. Russian authorities say they shot down over 1,600 drones since Saturday, with around 450 headed for the capital. Several drones managed to reach Moscow’s oil refinery, causing damage to the facility. Two people were reported killed in the wider Moscow region.
The large-scale attack coincided with the final day of Russia’s parliamentary elections. Moscow blames Ukraine for the strike, but Kyiv has not yet commented on the incident.
Around 450 drones targeted Moscow
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the assault as “unprecedented.”
According to Sobyanin, Russian air defenses shot down over 1,600 drones since Saturday, with nearly 450 directed at Moscow itself.
Despite the extensive air defense response, some drones managed to penetrate city airspace.
Several drones hit the grounds of Moscow’s oil refinery, and according to Sobyanin, one struck a residential building.
The city authorities said there were no injuries reported within Moscow itself.
Smoke rose over the refinery
Following the hit on the Moscow refinery, explosions were heard and clouds of smoke rose above the industrial site.
The full extent of the damage is not yet known.
The Moscow refinery is a key part of Russia’s energy infrastructure. In 2024, it processed about 11.6 million tons of crude oil, producing millions of tons of gasoline and diesel.
Two killed in Moscow region
The heaviest casualties were reported in the wider Moscow region.
Governor Andrei Vorobyov announced that two people died in the attacks and several residential buildings were damaged.
In Ramensky district, authorities evacuated roughly 400 people, including 70 children, from a 21-story residential building.
Emergency services continued inspecting damaged structures and working to deal with the aftermath of the attack.
Russia claims the attack aimed to disrupt elections
Sobyanin linked the scale of the attack to the ongoing parliamentary elections.
According to him, the drone strike was planned to disrupt the voting process.
This is the position of Russian authorities. Kyiv has not yet commented on the attack itself or on the claim of a political motive.
Drone attacks increasingly affect Russia’s fuel sector
Russian refineries have repeatedly been targeted by long-range drone attacks in recent months.
Several facilities have been forced to reduce or completely stop production after such incidents.
In September, about half of Russia’s largest diesel producers cut output, with drone attacks being one of the main causes. This has increased fuel shortages and driven up prices in some Russian regions.
In response, Moscow has introduced measures to limit the export of certain fuels and stabilize the domestic market.
Energy sector attacks continue despite countermeasures
Both Russia and Ukraine have attacked each other’s energy infrastructure in recent months.
Kyiv has focused its long-range attacks on refineries, fuel depots, and other facilities seen as part of Russia’s war economy.
In turn, Russia has continued its strikes on Ukraine’s energy and civilian infrastructure.
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Sunday’s attack demonstrated that even extensive air defenses cannot completely prevent drones from reaching the Russian capital. The hit on one of Moscow’s most important oil refineries once again put a spotlight on Russia’s energy infrastructure.
The exact extent of the refinery damage remains unknown. Russian authorities continue assessing the aftermath of the attack and have yet to announce whether operations at the facility will be affected.
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
