Ukrainian drones hit Moscow region as Russia votes; at least two dead, refinery damaged

Pinned summary · as of 16:36

Drones launched by Ukraine struck the Moscow region on Sunday, the closing day of voting in Russia's parliamentary election. Russian officials reported at least two deaths and damage to the Moscow oil refinery, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that his forces carried out strikes in the area.

What we know

• Russian authorities said Ukrainian drones targeted the Moscow region on Sunday, the last day of Russia's parliamentary election.
• Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defences brought down about 450 drones that were heading for the capital.
• Russian officials, Mr Sobyanin among them, called it the biggest drone assault Moscow has faced to date.
• The Moscow oil refinery suffered damage in the attack.
• Reports also said a drone struck a residential building, according to the Moscow mayor and other Russian authorities.
• Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyov reported that at least two people died in the attacks.
• President Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had hit oil-industry and logistics targets in the Moscow region.
• Mr Sobyanin said the strike was clearly planned to disrupt the vote, and other Russian officials also accused Ukraine of trying to interfere with the election. Ukraine has not been reported as accepting that charge.
• Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes killed people in the Kyiv region, among them at least one child.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  Casualty numbers in the Moscow region vary between reports. The Custodian said two people died and 15 went to hospital, The Press Radio said two died and 20 were injured, and Energy News Africa reported that a third person later died of his injuries.
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  Drone totals also differ. Mr Sobyanin was reported as saying more than 1,600 drones were downed since Saturday; The Press Radio spoke of more than 1,000 launched at Russia, and cited the Russian Defence Ministry for 1,110 intercepted across Russia, Crimea and the Black Sea overnight.
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  Accounts of the Kyiv region toll are not the same. The Custodian quoted the regional governor as saying three children and a woman died, while The Press Radio mentioned only one child who died after being hurt.
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  Energy News Africa reported that about 400 people, 70 of them children, were evacuated from a 21-storey block in the Ramenskoye district, citing the Moscow region governor. No other report gave this figure.
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  Energy News Africa also said Ukrainian strikes have removed a large part of Russia's refining capacity, causing fuel shortages and queues, and that the fighting on energy sites continued despite an announcement by US President Donald Trump. Other reports do not say this.

Why it matters for Ghana

The strikes show that the war is reaching Russia's capital and its energy sector at a politically sensitive moment. Ghanaian households and businesses buy fuel whose price responds to developments in global oil markets, and higher fuel costs usually feed into transport fares and the price of goods. Ghanaians with relatives or students in Russia or Ukraine will also be following the reported civilian casualties on both sides.