Plumes of smoke billowed over Moscow on Sunday as Ukrainian drones launched a large-scale attack on the capital, hitting a major oil refinery and residential areas, Russian officials reported. Mayor Sergey Sobyanin stated that 450 drones were intercepted en route to the city, describing the assault as unprecedented. While Sobyanin reported no fatalities at the Moscow Oil Refinery, he indicated the attack appeared timed to disrupt the ongoing Russian parliamentary elections.

The Gazprom-MNPZ refinery, located southeast of Moscow and operated by state-run Gazprom, is one of Russia's largest, with an annual processing capacity of approximately 11 million tons of oil. Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council's Counter-Disinformation Center, confirmed a significant incident at the refinery, noting its role in supplying fuel to the capital.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed Kyiv's long-range strikes had a "very significant impact" in the Moscow region, specifically hitting a key oil industry facility that contributes "billions of dollars to Russia's war machine." Zelenskyy urged Moscow to end the war and prioritize peace over defensive measures.

The governor of the Moscow region, Andrey Vorobyov, reported that one person was killed and five injured when a drone struck an apartment block in Sofino, southwest of the city. Another fatality occurred in the Orekhovo-Zuevsky area to the east, with an additional injury in the southern Leninsky district. In total, Vorobyov stated that 20 people were injured across the region.

Vorobyov also detailed other incidents, including a fire at an apartment building in the Ramensky district, prompting the evacuation of 400 people and damage to 20 cars. Fires were also reported at a warehouse complex in Sofino and another apartment building in Kotelniki, southeast of Moscow. In response to the widespread attacks, Moscow's four international airports—Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky, and Sheremetyevo—were temporarily closed to flights.

This latest drone offensive marks an escalation in Ukraine's efforts to strike targets deep within Russian territory. Previously, Ukrainian forces have focused on border regions and military infrastructure, but recent months have seen an increase in strikes on Russian oil facilities and the capital itself.

The attacks come as Russia is conducting its parliamentary elections, a process that concludes on Sunday. Kyiv has consistently stated its aim to degrade Russia's economic capacity and military capabilities, with oil infrastructure being a significant target due to its revenue generation for the Russian state.

Russian authorities have repeatedly accused Ukraine of conducting "terrorist attacks" and have vowed to retaliate. The effectiveness and reach of Ukraine's drone program continue to be a major concern for Moscow, underscoring the evolving nature of the conflict.