Moscow's largest refinery hit
Ukraine sent a record wave of drones toward Moscow on Sunday, the final day of Russia's parliamentary election. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said more than 1,600 drones were shot down across Russia from Saturday onward, and that around 450 of them were approaching the capital. He said several drones reached the Moscow Refinery and one struck a residential building in the Moscow region town of Kotelniki. Russian authorities reported at least two deaths. Video published by Ukraine's president showed the refinery on fire early Sunday, and German broadcaster DW called the strike the largest on Moscow of the war so far, saying the refinery was hit several times.
Voting ends without real opposition
The strikes landed as polls closed in elections held from September 18 to 20. The vote offered prizes for online balloting and, critics said, no genuine opposition candidates, with most independent voices barred from the ballot. State media framed the turnout as a show of support while air raid alerts sounded in the capital. Central Russia has now become a target zone rather than a rear area. The refinery that was hit supplies fuel to the Moscow region, and repeated damage to refining and export sites has forced Russia to ration some fuel sales in recent months.
Neighbors warn of wider risk
Poland said Russian drones entered its airspace and promised what it described as a nonprovocative but serious response. Ukrainian officials also asked allies for help protecting their rail network after Russia increased attacks on trains and tracks that move weapons and grain. Ukraine has spent months hitting refineries, pipelines and ports to cut the oil revenue that funds the war. Each strike raises the cost of keeping Russia's energy system running, and repair crews now work on sites far behind the front line.
Sobyanin said air defenses worked through the night and that emergency crews were sent to the refinery and to the damaged apartment block. Ukraine's military has not commented on the specific targets, and both sides continue to trade long-range strikes on energy sites and transport hubs.