Ukraine Unleashes Major Drone Attack on Moscow During Russia Vote

New Delhi, September 20, 2026 Ukraine launched a large-scale drone assault on Moscow on Sunday, striking the Russian capital as voters were casting ballots on the final day of parliamentary elections. The attack added a major security dimension to an election that President Vladimir Putin has presented as a measure of public support for his government and its continued war in Ukraine. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said two people were killed in the Moscow region, while Russian election authorities reported two further deaths in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine’s Kherson region, including an election official. The attack also caused damage to a facility at Moscow’s oil refinery, which has previously been targeted. “The biggest attack by enemy drones has been repelled,” Sobyanin said on Telegram. “This unprecedented attack was clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections. The enemy did not succeed.” The State Duma election is the first parliamentary vote held since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The ruling United Russia party is expected to retain its strong position in the legislature, amid criticism from opponents who argue that Russia’s political system allows limited space for dissent. The Kremlin is expected to use the election result to demonstrate continued public support for Putin’s policies and the war in Ukraine. The conflict has now entered its fifth year, with fighting continuing and no immediate end to the war in sight. The drone assault on election day therefore underscored the continuing impact of the conflict on Russia’s domestic political landscape.