Ukraine Launches Over 1,100 Drones on Russia in Largest-Ever Moscow Attack, Timed to Final Day of Parliamentary Vote as Putin's United Russia Secures 57.5 Percent

Ukraine launched more than 1,100 drones across Russia on September 20, 2026, the final day of Russia's first parliamentary election since the 2022 invasion, with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin calling it the largest drone attack ever on the capital. Russian defense officials said they shot down over 1,900 drones, missiles, and projectiles overnight, though Ukraine did not confirm the exact count. At least three people were killed in the Moscow region and a major oil refinery was damaged. Moscow Mayor Sobyanin said the attack was clearly planned to disrupt the elections. Voting concluded with United Russia, backed by President Vladimir Putin, securing 57.5 percent of the vote with more than 71 percent of ballots counted, according to the Central Election Commission. Russia held parliamentary elections September 18-20, 2026, with all parties on the ballot broadly pledging loyalty to Putin and his political views. The only registered party opposing the war, the liberal Yabloko party, was barred from standing by the country's top court. Peterson Institute analyst Elina Ribakova noted the regime's need to show legitimization and that United Russia is on course for a much higher vote share than in 2021. Kyiv dismissed the vote as a pseudo-election. President Zelensky said Ukrainian forces struck a key oil industry enterprise and logistics facility in the Moscow region, adding that Moscow could end its brutal war and choose peace if there is political will to do so. Russia continues to attack Ukraine with near-constant aerial assaults, with three children and one woman killed in strikes on Kyiv overnight into September 20.