Ukraine Launches More Than 1,000 Drones at Russia; Moscow Reports Largest-Ever Drone Attack
Ukraine launched a large-scale overnight aerial strike involving more than 1,000 drones against targets inside Russia, officials confirmed on Sunday. Described by local authorities as the largest single attack directed at the Russian capital to date.
Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones toward targets across Russia overnight, including hundreds headed for Moscow, Russian officials said on Sunday. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the assault as the largest drone attack on the Russian capital, while authorities reported deaths, injuries and damage to an oil refinery and residential buildings, according to a report.
The large-scale attack came as Russia was holding the final day of its parliamentary elections, adding to the significance of the strikes around the capital. Ukraine has not officially commented on all aspects of the reported attack. Russia-Ukraine War: Over 500,000 Russian Troops Killed, UK Defence Chief Says.
Moscow Reports Largest-Ever Drone Attack
JUST IN: 🇷🇺🔥🇺🇦 Ukraine President Zelensky CONFIRMS a massive DRONE ATTACK on Russia, targeting a MAJOR OIRL REFINERY among other sites in the Moscow region.
— JackTheRippler ©️ (@RippleXrpie) September 20, 2026
More than 1,100 drones reported intercepted
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces shot down 1,110 Ukrainian drones across Russia, as well as over Crimea and the Black Sea, according to reports. Moscow officials separately said around 450 drones were destroyed while heading toward the capital.
Sobyanin called the attack “unprecedented” and said the scale of the assault suggested an attempt to disrupt the elections. He said the attack did not prevent voting from taking place.
Two killed, 20 injured in Moscow region
The Moscow region governor, Andrei Vorobyov, said two people were killed and 20 others injured in the wider Moscow region. One of the reported casualties was a 74-year-old man and the other a 44-year-old woman, according to the regional authorities. Around 400 people, including 70 children, were evacuated from an apartment building in the Ramenskoye district after the attack. Residential buildings and vehicles were also damaged in several locations around Moscow. Zelenskyy Says Ukrainian Forces Hit Russian Oil Facilities, Drone Launch Site.
Oil refinery among sites hit
Several drones reached the premises of the Moscow Oil Refinery, according to Sobyanin. The facility, located in the southeastern part of the capital, sustained damage, while smoke was reported rising from the area.
The refinery is an important part of Moscow's fuel supply network. Reuters reported that the facility processed 11.6 million metric tonnes of crude oil in 2024, producing about 2.9 million tonnes of gasoline and 3.2 million tonnes of diesel. The full extent of the operational damage was not immediately clear.
Flights temporarily restricted
Russia's aviation authorities temporarily imposed restrictions at four Moscow-area airports — Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky and Sheremetyevo during the overnight attack. The restrictions were later lifted on Sunday morning. The measures were introduced as Russian air-defence systems attempted to intercept the incoming drones.
Attack coincides with Russian parliamentary elections
The strikes occurred during the final day of Russia's parliamentary elections. Sobyanin said the attack had been planned to interfere with the voting, although the claim was presented by Russian authorities and was not independently established.
The election is Russia's first wartime parliamentary election, with voting also taking place in Ukrainian territories that Russia claims to have annexed but does not fully control. Kyiv has rejected those territorial claims and condemned the voting in occupied areas.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says strikes targeted oil and logistics facilities
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv's long-range strikes had targeted Russian oil and logistics infrastructure. He described the facilities as sources of revenue supporting Russia's war effort. Ukraine has increasingly relied on domestically produced long-range drones and missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia, while Russia has continued its own large-scale drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian territory.
The latest assault highlights the continuing expansion of long-range drone warfare between the two countries, with both sides targeting infrastructure well beyond the frontline.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 20, 2026 06:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
