Ukraine launched a wave of drone and missile strikes against Russian targets on Sunday, September 20, 2026, the final day of Russia’s three-day parliamentary elections. Russian officials described the attack as the largest of the war to date, reporting that more than 1,000 drones were intercepted across the country, with Moscow's mayor stating approximately 450 targeted the capital region. In response, the Russian Defense Ministry vowed to intensify "high-accuracy strikes" against military targets in Kyiv, accusing Ukraine of attempting to disrupt the electoral process.
The attacks coincided with the conclusion of the first federal elections held since the start of the full-scale conflict in 2022. Early results and exit polls released on Monday, September 21, indicated that President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party was on track to maintain its dominance in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament. The voting took place amid reports of cyberattacks on electronic systems and the exclusion of most anti-war opposition candidates, following the removal of the liberal Yabloko party's federal list from the ballot by Russia’s Supreme Court.
Casualties were reported in both countries during the weekend's hostilities. In the Moscow region, Governor Andrei Vorobyov said drone strikes killed a 74-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman, while wounding 20 others and causing a fire that forced the evacuation of 400 people from a 21-story building. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes hit oil refineries and logistics facilities to strain Russia's economy. In Ukraine, officials reported that Russian strikes on Saturday evening killed a mother and three children in Kyiv, while a drone hit a monastery in the Kherson region, killing a member of the clergy.
For residents in Russia and the occupied territories, there was a heavy military presence at some polling stations, where an armed soldier was observed near a ballot box in the Donetsk region. Voters also reported technical issues with electronic registration systems in Moscow, which some opposition figures suggested were intended to discourage the use of paper ballots. In the capital, an oil refinery was reported damaged. Ukrainian citizens in occupied areas were warned by their own government that participating in the organization of the vote could lead to criminal liability under Ukrainian law.
The election further cements the current political structure in Russia, as other parties poised to enter the Duma have publicly supported the military campaign in Ukraine. Following the vote, the Kremlin is expected to proceed with implementing President Putin's current policy agenda. On the diplomatic front, President Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke on Sunday and agreed to a future meeting in New York to discuss potential de-escalation steps. The U.S. State Department also approved a $2.68 billion sale of air defense equipment to Ukraine as the conflict continues.