# Ukraine strikes Moscow on Russian election day

> Hundreds of drones hit the capital as Russians vote in a tightly controlled parliamentary election.
- Title: Ukraine strikes Moscow on Russian election day · the Guardian
- Summary: Hundreds of drones hit the capital as Russians vote in a tightly controlled parliamentary election. Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Moscow…
- Keywords: ukraine, russia, moscow, drone attack, parliamentary election, volodymyr zelenskyy, vladimir putin, oil refinery, news, world, strikes, Russian
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/20/hundreds-of-drones-target-moscow-on-last-day-of-voting-in-russias-parliamentary-election
- Published: 2026-09-20T14:44:17+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ukraine, russia, moscow, drone attack, parliamentary election, volodymyr zelenskyy, vladimir putin, oil refinery, news, world
## Hundreds of drones hit Moscow
Ukraine launched a large-scale attack on Moscow and the surrounding region involving hundreds of drones on Sunday, the final day of Russia's parliamentary elections.
## At least three killed, refinery damaged
The attack killed at least three people, including a forty-four-year-old woman and an elderly man. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said one of Russia's key oil industry facilities was damaged.
## New weapons used in strike
Zelenskyy said Ukraine used the Pelican, initially thought to be a short-range ballistic missile but later identified as a winged drone, and domestically produced Flamingo cruise missiles.
## Moscow claims massive interception
Moscow's mayor Sergey Sobyanin said more than sixteen hundred drones were intercepted and shot down, including four hundred fifty aimed at Moscow, though these figures are often exaggerated.
## Sobyanin blames election interference
Sobyanin accused Ukraine of attempting to disrupt Russia's three-day election. He said on Telegram: The unprecedented attack was clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections. The enemy did not succeed.

> The unprecedented attack was clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections. The enemy did not succeed.
## Ukraine targets Russian energy supplies
Kyiv has stepped up long-range drone strikes against Russia in recent months, particularly targeting energy infrastructure. Ukrainian strikes have knocked out significant oil-refining capacity, triggering shortages and fuel price increases.
## Strike contradicts Trump's agreement claim
The attack comes after US president Donald Trump said on Monday that Ukraine and Russia agreed not to target each other's energy facilities, and after Russians began voting on Friday in their first parliamentary elections since the February two thousand twenty-two invasion.
## Key takeaway

Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Moscow during Russia's parliamentary elections, killing at least three people and damaging an oil refinery.