A major Ukrainian drone attack targeted Moscow and the surrounding region on September 20, killing two people and damaging residential buildings and critical infrastructure, according to Russian authorities and reports from international media.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air-defence forces had intercepted more than 1,600 drones since the previous day, including around 450 that were heading toward Moscow. Russian officials described the incident as one of the largest drone attacks on the capital since the start of the war.
Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov said 249 drones were brought down or neutralised across 17 districts during the early morning hours. The attacks caused fires and damage in several locations, including residential areas. Two people were reported killed, while several others were injured.
One of the major sites affected was the Moscow Oil Refinery in the capital's Kapotnya district. Russian officials said a facility at the refinery was damaged, while reports showed a fire at the site. The refinery is an important supplier of fuel to Moscow and the surrounding region.
Residential areas were also affected. In the Ramenskoye district, a drone or falling debris caused a fire on the roof of a high-rise apartment building, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate. Other homes and buildings in the Moscow region were also damaged.
The attacks also disrupted air travel around the Russian capital. Several Moscow-area airports temporarily restricted takeoffs and landings because of security concerns, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.
The attack came as Russia was holding the final day of its parliamentary elections. Moscow's mayor alleged that the drone operation was intended to disrupt the vote, but this assessment is a claim by the Russian authorities and has not been independently established.
Ukraine has not formally claimed responsibility for the strikes, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has discussed the attacks on Russia and said Ukrainian forces used drones and missiles against Russian targets. Both Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly said they do not intentionally target civilians.
The latest strikes come as Russia and Ukraine continue long-range attacks against each other's military, energy and infrastructure targets. The damage to the Moscow refinery is particularly significant because repeated attacks on Russian oil facilities have contributed to pressure on the country's fuel-processing sector.
The full impact of the latest attack remains under assessment, and casualty and damage figures could change as authorities continue emergency operations and investigations.