Ukraine Launches Massive Drone Attack on Moscow During Russian Elections
Ukraine fired over 1,000 drones at Russia, including hundreds targeting Moscow, coinciding with the final day of Russia's parliamentary elections. The attack caused casualties and damage to infrastructure, prompting retaliatory strikes by Russia.
Ukrainian forces launched an unprecedented drone assault on Russia overnight, firing more than 1,000 drones across the country, with hundreds specifically directed toward Moscow. The attack coincided with the third and final day of Russia’s first wartime parliamentary elections.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the wave of drones as the "largest ever" or "most massive" attack on the Russian capital. According to local Governor Andrei Vorobyov, the strikes in the wider Moscow region resulted in the deaths of two people—a 74-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman—and wounded 20 others. However, casualty reports vary, with The Guardian citing at least three deaths in the region.
The attack caused significant damage to infrastructure, including a key oil refinery and residential buildings in Moscow. Approximately 400 people were evacuated from a 21-storey building following the strikes. Major airports, including Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo, implemented temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures due to the security threat, though these measures were lifted by Sunday morning.
Russian officials provided conflicting figures regarding the interception of the drones. Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed its forces shot down 1,100 Ukrainian drones across the country. Meanwhile, Mayor Sobyanin later cited figures of more than 1,600 intercepted drones since Friday, noting that 450 were destroyed en route to Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that his forces struck energy and logistics facilities, stating that the attacks targeted "billions of dollars that sustain the war machine." Zelensky mentioned the use of domestically produced "Flamingo" cruise missiles and a weapon called "Pelican." While initially thought to be a short-range ballistic missile, sources later identified the "Pelican" as a winged drone rather than a ballistic missile.
In response to the Ukrainian offensive, Russia announced strikes on targets within Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defence stated it had hit logistics centers, warehouses, ports, and military-industrial sites in Kyiv and Odesa. Separate incidents on Saturday saw Russian attacks in the Kyiv and Sumy regions kill nine people, including three children.