Moscow Hid Drone Attack to Avoid Disrupting Election Turnout, ISW Says

Russian authorities deliberately withheld air raid warnings during a record drone attack on Moscow on September uring the final day of State Duma elections, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). No sirens or SMS alerts were issued, a departure from previous practice during smaller strikes. The ISW report, cited by RBC-Ukraine, indicates Moscow region officials prioritized high voter turnout over public safety. Authorities did restrict mobile communications without explanation, while residents complained on Governor Andrei Vorobyov's Telegram channel before comments were disabled. Ukrainian forces targeted strategic oil and logistics infrastructure, not electoral sites. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed strikes on the Moscow oil refinery, one of Russia's largest, which caught fire. He stated the operation used various drone models including FP-1, RZ-100, MICH-2000, "Palianytsia", Vendetta, "Liutyi", "Bars", "Flamingo", "Sichen", and Pelican.