Ukraine strikes Moscow with drones and Flamingo missiles during Russian election

Ukraine launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Moscow and the surrounding region on Sunday, killing at least three people on the final day of Russia’s parliamentary elections.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the operation targeted one of Russia’s “key oil industry facilities” and involved domestically produced Flamingo cruise missiles.

Zelenskyy also said Ukraine used a weapon called the Pelican. It was initially reported as a short-range ballistic missile, but sources later indicated it was a winged drone, according to the Guardian.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed Russian forces intercepted more than 1,600 drones, including 450 targeting Moscow.

“The unprecedented attack was clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections. The enemy did not succeed,” Sobyanin said on Telegram.

At least three people were killed in separate incidents, authorities said.

A drone also crashed into a 21-storey building, triggering a fire and forcing about 400 people to evacuate, according to Moscow regional governor Andrey Vorobyov.

Ukraine has increased long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure in recent months, targeting facilities that provide revenue for Moscow’s war effort.