Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia, including hundreds targeting Moscow, in what the city's mayor described as the largest-ever attack on the Russian capital, damaging an oil refinery and a residential building.
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Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia, with hundreds directed at Moscow, according to reporting from NPR and Al Jazeera published on September 20, 2026.
Moscow’s mayor described the wave of drones as the “largest ever” attack on the Russian capital, according to NPR. The mayor said there had been damage to a Moscow oil refinery and a residential building.
Al Jazeera reported footage capturing the moment a drone exploded as it hit an apartment building in Moscow, underscoring that the attack reached residential areas of the city.
The scale of the assault, involving more than 1,000 drones, marks a significant escalation in the aerial campaign directed at Russian territory, based on the figures reported by both outlets.
The reports focused on the immediate damage to infrastructure and housing in the capital. The oil refinery cited by the mayor was among the sites affected, according to NPR.
Beyond the mayor’s description of the damage and the reported drone count, the sources did not provide further details on casualties or the wider military response.
Why it matters
An attack on this scale, described by Moscow's own mayor as the largest ever on the capital, signals a marked intensification of the conflict reaching deep into Russian territory. Strikes on an oil refinery and residential buildings raise concerns about energy infrastructure and civilian safety.
Timeline
- Moscow attacked by more than 1,000 Ukrainian drones
Al Jazeera: This is the moment a drone exploded as it hit an apartment building in Moscow.
- Ukraine fires over 1,000 drones at Russia, including hundreds launched at Moscow
NPR News: Moscow's mayor described the wave of drones as the "largest ever" attack on the Russian capital and said there had been damage to a Moscow oil refinery and a residential building.