Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow in the early hours of Sunday, September 24, 2023, resulted in at least two deaths and damage to a large oil refinery. These attacks took place on the last day of voting in Russia's parliamentary elections, which were the first parliamentary elections since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Details of the Drone Attacks
Andrei Vorobyov, the governor of the Moscow region, announced that the Moscow region was subjected to large drone attacks last night, and 400 people were evacuated from an apartment building. Additionally, Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow, stated that over 1,600 drones had been identified and shot down by Russian forces, with 450 drones heading towards the Russian capital. He said: "The largest attack by enemy drones has been repelled" and added: "This unprecedented attack was clearly aimed at disrupting the planned elections. The enemy did not succeed."
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Response from the President of Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, confirmed that attacks on infrastructure facilities in Moscow and its surroundings had taken place. He stated on the social media platform X: "Our long-range responses had a very significant impact in the Moscow region last night. One of the key facilities of the Russian oil industry and the logistics facilities of the invaders were attacked."
Voting in the Russian parliamentary elections continued while Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, stated in a televised speech before the voting: "Your choice and your will will once again show that millions stand behind our soldiers and we are a united nation." The ruling party, "United Russia," led by Putin, is expected to maintain its dominance in parliament and present this victory as a sign of public support for the war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported that in attacks on the Vyshgorod region of Kyiv on Saturday, three children and one woman lost their lives. Tymur Tokchenko, the governor of the region, announced that a child who was injured in the Saturday attack died in the hospital.
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