Russia Reports 350 Drones Toward Moscow During Elections
Russia Reports 350 Drones Toward Moscow During Elections
Anonymous
Key Points
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Russian officials gave a more specific figure of 35 drones shot down overnight while flying toward Moscow, contrasting with broader reports that more than 350 drones had been detected in the area.
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RIA Novosti reported that 64 drones were destroyed as they approached Moscow, underscoring the differing interception figures reported by Russian authorities.
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The reported drone wave followed an earlier massive overnight assault, during which Russia said it intercepted hundreds of Ukrainian drones; Ukrainian strikes also reportedly hit targets including an oil refinery in Russia’s Yaroslavl region.
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The parliamentary vote covers all 450 seats in Russia’s State Duma, runs until Sunday evening, and was expected to produce initial results shortly after voting ends.
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A correspondent quoted in coverage characterized the elections as “a farce,” reflecting criticism of the political environment in which the vote is taking place.
Russia reported intercepting over 350 Ukrainian drones headed toward Moscow as the country began three days of elections on September 17. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said most were destroyed, though United 24 Media noted that specific interception counts varied widely among Russian officials. The reported attacks also hit other regions — authorities claimed 40 drones downed in Tula and 43 in Nizhny Novgorod.
The drone assault coincided with Russia's parliamentary and local elections, which are expected to favor President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party. The vote covers all 450 seats in the State Duma and runs through Sunday evening. One correspondent characterized the elections as "a farce," reflecting criticism of Russia's limited political opposition amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Conflicting Figures on Drone Interceptions
Russian authorities gave sharply different numbers for how many drones they shot down. Moscow officials initially reported over 350 drones detected in the region. However, RIA Novosti reported that 64 drones were actually destroyed approaching Moscow, and other officials cited 35 drones intercepted overnight — a massive gap between detected and destroyed figures.
Regional Attacks Across Western Russia
The drone strikes extended far beyond Moscow. Russian officials reported downing 40 drones in the Tula region, located 180 kilometers south of Moscow, and 43 in Nizhny Novgorod, further northeast. The reported attacks also included strikes on infrastructure — Ukrainian forces reportedly hit an oil refinery in Russia's Yaroslavl region during an earlier overnight assault.
Elections Proceed Amid Uncertainty
Russia's three-day parliamentary election began despite the reported drone attacks. All 450 seats in the State Duma are up for election, with results expected shortly after voting closes Sunday. United 24 Media noted that Putin's United Russia party is widely expected to win decisively, as opposition parties face severe restrictions and the war in Ukraine continues to shape the political environment.
Ongoing Cycle of Drone Attacks
This assault followed an earlier massive overnight drone wave that Russia claimed to have largely intercepted. TASS reported that Russian Geran-4 drones had destroyed Ukrainian radar stations and electronic warfare systems in the Dnepropetrovsk and Odessa regions. The back-and-forth aerial attacks show no signs of slowing as the war in Ukraine continues to intensify.
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