Ukraine Drone Attack Hits Moscow Refinery Amid Russian Elections

Massive fires erupted in Moscow overnight following a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack that targeted the Russian capital's largest oil refinery, resulting in at least two deaths. The strikes occurred on the final day of Russia's parliamentary elections, which President Vladimir Putin has framed as a referendum on the war in Ukraine.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that while many drones were downed, some reached the oil refinery and an apartment building. He stated the attack was timed to disrupt the elections but failed in its objective. In a separate incident in the Moscow region, a drone strike on a logistics hub killed a woman and injured five others, including two children. An elderly man was also killed by a downed drone in the Orekhovo-Zuevsky district.

The scale of damage to the Moscow refinery, which processed 11.6 million metric tons of oil in 2024, was not immediately clear. The attack led to significant disruptions at Moscow's main airports, with the capital's airspace being closed. Ukrainian strikes have previously impacted Russia's oil refining capacity, leading to fuel shortages and price increases across the country.

Ukraine has not officially commented on the attacks, and both Russia and Ukraine maintain they do not target civilians. In the Moscow region, approximately 400 people, including 70 children, were evacuated from a high-rise apartment building damaged by debris from downed drones.

Russians began voting on Friday in the three-day parliamentary election, the country's first wartime national vote. The election is widely expected to solidify the ruling United Russia party's dominance. Critics argue the political system tolerates little dissent, and most anti-war candidates were barred from the ballot.

The Kremlin intends to use the election results to demonstrate public support for Putin's policies and the ongoing war. Despite the predictable outcome, some analysts suggest the vote could present challenges for the Kremlin amidst economic pressures. Concerns have been raised about the potential for votes to shift towards systemic opposition parties, such as the Communist Party and New People Party, which generally align with United Russia on key issues.

Putin addressed the nation prior to the election, stating that the vote would underscore support for Russian troops. Meanwhile, Kyiv has dismissed the Russian elections as illegitimate, particularly as martial law is in effect in Ukraine, suspending its own elections. Russian officials reported a cyberattack on Moscow's online voting system.

Initial election results are expected by Sunday evening, with more comprehensive results anticipated on Monday.