Ukraine launched a substantial attack involving a barrage of missiles and over 1,000 drones on Russian territory. This strike has been termed by Moscow as the “largest ever” of the ongoing war, coinciding with the country’s parliamentary elections. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the attack as targeting the financial resources driving Russia’s military efforts, urging Russia to cease the conflict and pursue peace.
“Tonight, in the Moscow region, our long-range responses were deeply felt,” Zelenskyy stated. “Significant enterprises in Russia’s oil industry and logistics have been impacted. These strikes target the billions funding the war effort.”
The attack resulted in flames and smoke at an oil refinery in southeast Moscow, following intense drone activities on September 20, 2026, according to reports.
Zelenskyy also addressed the attack as a countermeasure to Russian hostilities, calling for new sanctions from the U.S., Europe, and the G7. He noted, “This week alone, Russia has launched over 2,000 attack drones, primarily jet-powered, along with numerous bombs and missiles. Ukraine progresses in its defense strategies and retaliation.” He appealed to international partners to find ways to make Russia experience the war’s impact and to implement new sanctions to press for peace.
The Kremlin completed the final session of its parliamentary elections over the weekend, with local Governor Andrei Vorobyov reporting two casualties and twenty injuries due to the attacks.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed the large-scale drone attack was primarily aimed at disrupting the elections, which ultimately did not succeed. Russian defense forces claimed to have intercepted 1,110 Ukrainian drones, including those targeting Crimea and areas over the Black Sea. The attack reportedly damaged both the Moscow Oil Refinery and a residential facility.
Zelenskyy declared, “Moscow should end its aggressive war efforts, opting for peace rather than investing in tiers of defense systems.” He called for political commitment towards easing conflicts, focusing on energy and food security.
Ukraine persisted amid Russian offensives. According to Zelenskyy, a Russian drone strike on a monastery in Ukraine’s Kherson region resulted in the death of a clergy member and injuries to multiple others. Meanwhile, another Russian attack on Kyiv led to the death of three children and their mother, as confirmed by Kyiv regional head Tymur Tkachenko.
The Ukrainian drone strikes occurred as Russia held its first wartime parliamentary elections, which have seen little opposition to President Vladimir Putin’s policies. Russia conducted these elections in both the claimed Ukrainian regions not fully under its control and in Crimea, annexed in 2014.
President Putin accused Ukraine of attempting to disrupt the election process, referencing an alleged Ukrainian assault that killed an election official in Zaporizhzhia’s Russian-controlled region. Independent verification of these claims by Reuters was not possible, and there was no official response from Kyiv.
In a public address, Putin remarked on the election’s significance in showcasing national unity and support for Russian forces engaged in Ukraine. The Associated Press and Reuters provided contributions to this report.
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