Hundreds of drones target Moscow on Russian election day
The gist
Ukraine launched hundreds of drones at Moscow during Russia's parliamentary election, killing two people.
The strikes hit a refinery and voting, disrupting daily life in Russia.
How it unfolded
- Sep 18, 2026Ukraine launched more than 350 drones targeting Moscow as polls opened; Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said most were destroyed at an outer perimeter, with 64 shot down near the city. Russia's Defense Ministry said it intercepted 629 drones overnight across Russia and annexed Crimea.
- Sep 18, 2026Ukrainian forces hit the Yaroslavl oil refinery overnight, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported. Russian officials reported cyberattacks on the remote electronic voting system, and Sochi's mayor said voters and workers sheltered during an air raid alert.
- Sep 19, 2026Voter turnout was around 40 percent as of 6:00 pm Moscow time, according to Russia's Central Election Commission. Police arrested one of Yabloko's election observers, the party said.