Hundreds of Drones Attack Moscow, Killing Two and Damaging Key Oil Refinery

Russian authorities reported that Moscow and its surrounding areas were attacked early Sunday by hundreds of drones, causing two fatalities and damaging a key oil refinery, on the final day of Russia's parliamentary elections.

Regional Moscow Governor Andrey Vorobyov said 249 drones were intercepted, in

an attack that caused damage in several residential areas.

He wrote on Telegram shortly after 3:00 AM UTC that "the attack is ongoing," noting that two people had been killed—a 44-year-old woman and an elderly man—in different districts.

In a third location affected by the attack, 400 people were evacuated due to a fire that broke out after a drone struck a building, according to Vorobyov.

Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin stated in a series of Telegram posts that air defenses shot down at least 186 drones.

The origin of the drones was not specified, but these attacks come amid Ukraine's recent intensification of strikes deep inside Russian territory in response to Russia's escalation, with particular focus on energy facilities and logistical infrastructure.

Sobyanin added that "an installation in the Moscow oil refinery region was damaged," confirming no casualties have been recorded at present and that rescue teams are on site.

This refinery has previously been struck by Ukrainian attacks in recent months.

The attack occurred on the third and final day of Russia's parliamentary elections, expected to result in a victory for President Vladimir Putin's party, United Russia.

It also took place despite U.S. President Donald Trump affirming on Monday that Ukraine and Russia had pledged to cease targeting each other's energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Kyiv is ready to take "confidence-building steps" if Russia does the same, a move the Kremlin described as "a good idea."

Zelensky announced he intends to meet Trump next week in New York and expressed hope of resuming direct talks with Russia after the parliamentary elections, while the Kremlin did not rule out holding a meeting in October.