Moscow rocked by devastating drone strikes in ‘largest ever’ Ukrainian onslaught leaving two dead amid Russian election

UKRAINE has unleashed over 1,600 drones on Russia overnight, including what has been described as “the largest ever” attack on Moscow. A man, 74, and a woman, 44, were killed and 20 others were wounded, the youngest of which is aged 15, as several apartment blocks were hit in the operation. Plumes of smoke rise from fires (centre) at an oil refinery in Moscow, Russia, September 20, 2026 Credit: Reuters Multiple residential blocks were also hit in the attack on the Russian capital Credit: East2West “The largest-ever attack by enemy drones on Moscow has been repelled,” Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram. “Since yesterday, over 1,600 UAVs have been repelled at all frontlines. Of these, 450 were approaching Moscow.” Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! At the same time, the Ministry of Defence said its forces had “intercepted and destroyed” 1,110 Ukrainian drones over various regions of Russia, the Black Sea, and the annexed Crimean Peninsula. The Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya, which supplies almost half of the capital’s fuel demand, including the airports, was also severely damaged. A fire engulfing the top floors of a building in Moscow Credit: East2West Fires raged in several parts of the Moscow region Credit: East2West Footage shows massive fires raging at the district, as well as the Sofyino logistics techno park, with columns of thick black smoke pouring in the sky. There were reports that a heat and power plant was also hit in the strike. Moscow airports have been hit with hundreds of delays and cancellations in the aftermath. Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the massive attack on the Moscow region, saying “our long-range response made itself felt.” Most read in The Sun Fire crews at the site of a building on fire Credit: East2West Wreckage reportedly from a Ukrainian Flamingo missile found in Moscow region Credit: East2West The Ukrainian President said: “One of Russia’s key oil industry sites and the aggressor’s logistics facility were hit. “These are billions of dollars that sustain the war machine. “Systems used included FP-1, RZ-100, MICH-2000, Palianytsia, Vendetta, Liutyi, Bars, Flamingo, Sichen, and Pelican.” Zelensky added “sanctions were also imposed” on a facility in the Voronezh region. People gather outside a damaged residential building in the Ramensky district of the Moscow region, Russia, September, 20, 2026 Credit: Reuters The body of a victim lies on the ground in Sofyino settlement in the Ramensky district Credit: Reuters “Steps toward de-escalation are on the table – in energy and food security. What is needed is political will,” he said. Debris from a suspected Ukrainian-made FP-5 Flamingo missile was seen in the Moscow region. It is the first time that Ukraine has confirmed the use of the domestically produced cruise missiles. Hours before the attack, Zelensky said he had approved new long-range operations in response to Russian strikes. “We are preparing to expand our long-range capabilities,” he warned. The operation comes on the last day of Russia’s State Duma elections – a balloting that was virtually devoid of opposition to Vladimir Putin and is all but certain to cement the Kremlin’s dominance. Most anti-war candidates were barred from the ballot. Those who did run from the liberal Yabloko party, which has polled in the single digits in recent years but hoped to tap into war fatigue, said they feared for their freedom after courts handed long jail ‌terms to two senior party figures before the vote for comments about the conflict deemed ‌illegal by authorities. Comment now