Moscow targeted with hundreds of drones as Ukraine uses its first ballistic missile in Russia war

On September 20, 2026, Ukraine launched a large-scale attack against Russia, employing hundreds of drones and the first confirmed use of ballistic missiles in the conflict. The assault resulted in at least two deaths and damaged a key oil facility, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The missile utilized, known as the Pelican, has an estimated range of roughly 350km (220 miles) and is designed for short-range attacks, making direct hits on Moscow unlikely.

Zelenskyy cited ten different weapon types employed in the complex assault, primarily developed within Ukraine. Despite lacking missile technology until recently, Ukraine has recently adopted domestically produced Flamingo cruise missiles, which can strike deep within Russia. Images purporting to show Flamingo missile remnants in Moscow were shared on Telegram, though verification remains unconfirmed.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that over 1,600 drones were intercepted and destroyed, with 450 targeting the city itself, though these numbers might be overstated. The attack coincided with Russia's parliamentary elections, which Putin's United Russia party is expected to win decisively. Sobyanin alleged that Ukraine sought to disrupt these elections, a claim contested by Kyiv, which has increasingly targeted Russia's energy infrastructure, crippling their oil industry and fueling economic hardships across the nation.