Ukraine launched what Moscow's mayor called its "largest ever" drone attack on the Russian capital Sunday, timed to the final day of Russia's parliamentary elections.
Russian officials say over 1,600 drones were intercepted nationwide since Saturday, with about 450 heading toward Moscow though several still struck an oil refinery and a residential building, killing two people and injuring 20, including three children.
An assault Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said was "clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections," even as he insisted "the enemy did not succeed."
Sunday marked the third and final day of Russia's first parliamentary elections since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. With no credible opposition on the ballot, President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party was widely expected to win. Voting also took place in four Ukrainian regions Russia has illegally annexed but does not fully control.
Even as Ukraine struck Moscow, Russia continued its own drone and missile attacks on Ukraine overnight, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv region's military administration underscoring that Sunday's exchange was part of the ongoing, reciprocal pattern of long-range strikes both sides have carried out throughout the war, rather than an isolated incident.
Flight restrictions were reported across Moscow following the attacks.
