Ukraine's summer drone campaign disrupts daily life across Russia

Ukraine's intensified drone campaign caused widespread disruption across Russia throughout summer 2026, with over 43,300 drones intercepted between June and August, according to Defense Ministry data compiled by the Associated Press, compared to about 7,700 in the same period last year. The attacks struck oil refineries, e-commerce warehouses, and closed airports, leading to fuel shortages, canceled flights, and disrupted online orders. Russian citizens faced long gas lines and travel chaos, while officials acknowledged the strikes' impact on daily life. The turmoil comes ahead of Russia's parliamentary election scheduled for September 18-20, the first since the full-scale invasion. Analysts note increased public awareness of the war's consequences, though anti-war sentiment has not translated into significant protest or political opposition.