Moscow region withheld drone alerts during election day strike

During the final day of Russia’s three-day State Duma elections, authorities in the Moscow region reportedly withheld air raid sirens and SMS warnings during a massive Ukrainian drone strike. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed that Russian officials appeared to prioritize high voter turnout over public safety.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the overnight attack as “unprecedented,” noting that over 1,600 drones were intercepted, with 450 targeting the capital. The strike resulted in at least three deaths in the Moscow region, damage to a major oil refinery, and a drone strike on a 21-story residential building that forced the evacuation of approximately 400 people.

While mobile service was restricted—a common countermeasure during such attacks—the public warning systems remained inactive. Residents reportedly used the Telegram channel of Moscow Oblast Governor Andrey Vorobyov to complain before comments were disabled. Preliminary figures from the Central Election Commission indicate United Russia received approximately 57.54 percent of the vote as counting progressed.