Ukraine launches over 1,000 drones at Russia and hits Moscow refinery during election

Large-scale strikes across Moscow region

Ukrainian forces launched a wave of drone and missile strikes across Russian territory overnight, focusing on Moscow and surrounding districts on 20 September 2026. Russian defense officials reported that air defense systems intercepted 1,100 drones across the country, over the Black Sea, and across Crimea. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that 450 drones were directed toward the Russian capital alone, while Moscow regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported that 249 drones were shot down within the Moscow region. Russian officials asserted that the operation was intended to interrupt voting on the third and final day of the Russian parliamentary election.

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin addressed the scale of the drone operation on Telegram following the morning strikes.

“This unprecedented attack was clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections. The enemy did not succeed.”

Downed nationwide (Ministry of Defense)1,100

Targeted at Moscow (Sergei Sobyanin)450

Downed in Moscow region (Andrei Vorobyov)249

Downed nationwide (Ministry of Defense)

1100 drones

Targeted at Moscow (Sergei Sobyanin)

450 drones

Downed in Moscow region (Andrei Vorobyov)

249 drones

Data from the article text

Energy infrastructure and residential damage

The strikes caused casualties and structural damage in several residential and industrial sectors. In the Moscow region, Governor Vorobyov reported two deaths: a 44-year-old woman in Sofyino after a drone struck a three-story residential building, and a 71-year-old man in the Orekhovo-Zuevo district after a house was hit. Five other people, including two children, sustained injuries in Sofyino, bringing the regional injury count to twenty. In another affected district, 400 residents were evacuated after a drone struck a 21-story building and ignited a fire.

In southern Moscow, drones struck the Kapotnya oil refinery, known as the Moscow Oil Refinery and operated by Gazpromneft. The facility provides more than one third of the fuel consumed in the Moscow region, supplying gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel used in part by Russian armed forces. Ukrainian military officials confirmed strikes on three critical units at the refinery as well as a nearby logistics facility, sparking a large fire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the use of domestic Flamingo and Pelican missiles alongside drones in the operation against Russian oil and logistics assets.

President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the long-range operations against Russian infrastructure in a statement on Sunday.

“Moscow must stop building layered air defense systems at the expense of other regions and instead end its brutal war and choose peace.”

Voting concludes in parliamentary election

The drone strikes coincided with the closing day of Russia's three-day parliamentary elections, the first held since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Most anti-war candidates were barred from running, leaving the ruling United Russia party positioned to retain its legislative majority. Despite reported cyberattacks on 19 September 2026, Russia's Central Election Commission announced that nationwide voter turnout exceeded 50% by early afternoon on Sunday.

Preliminary election results were scheduled for release around 18:00 GMT on 20 September 2026, with detailed results expected on 21 September. In Russian-controlled Kherson, state media reported that two people died, including an election official, during a drone strike on a bus.

Cross-border casualties and strikes

The overnight drone strikes on Moscow followed attacks in several other regions. In Ukraine, officials reported that Russian strikes killed nine people on Saturday across the Kyiv and Sumy regions, including three children. In the Kherson region, Ukrainian officials said a Russian drone struck a monastery in the village of Chervony Mayak, killing a 71-year-old priest and injuring four other clerics.