{
  "id": 8779217,
  "title": "Russia vows revenge for election-day attacks as poll shows ruling party win",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/russia-vows-revenge-for-election-day-attacks-as-poll-shows-ruling",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T21:32:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/09/21/russia-vows-revenge-for-election-day-attacks-as-poll-shows-ruling-party-win"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a vow of retaliation against Ukraine in response to drone attacks on Moscow, as an exit poll forecasts the ruling United Russia party to secure a decisive victory in tightly contested parliamentary elections.\n\nUkraine launched a barrage of drones targeting Moscow and surrounding regions on the final day of voting, resulting in two fatalities and the destruction of an oil refinery, according to Ukrainian officials. Moscow's defense ministry accused Ukraine of attempting to undermine the democratic process and pledged a strong response.\n\nThe exit poll, conducted by the state-run Russian Public Opinion Research Center, indicated United Russia would garner 49.4% of the vote, mirroring its performance in the previous election. Russian Defense Minister accused Ukraine of trying to disrupt the \"democratic will of Russian citizens\" and vowed intensified high-accuracy strikes against military targets in Kyiv.\n\nMinister of Defence Sergey Sobyanin revealed that nearly 1,600 drones were deployed, with 450 specifically targeting Moscow. The attacks caused significant damage, including a large explosion at a residential building and significant smoke emanating from an oil refinery. At least two individuals were killed and 400 others were evacuated due to a fire triggered by a drone crash into a 21-story building.\n\nFormer President Dmitry Medvedev, who leads the ruling United Russia party, expressed satisfaction with the party's performance, stating their decisions would be implemented. All other parties supporting the war and Putin were expected to perform worse, according to VCIOM director Valery Fedorov.\n\nPutin had encouraged Russians to participate in the election, framing it as a show of support for Moscow's troops and a countermeasure against those seeking to weaken Russia. Opposition leaders, including Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya, called for widespread voting, reflecting the tense political climate. Cyberattacks targeting election infrastructure were reported, with the Central Election Commission reporting over 1,000 waves of DDoS attacks against election-related systems.",
  "summary": "Ukraine launched drones at Moscow and the surrounding region on the final day of parliamentary elections, killing two people and setting an oil refinery ablaze.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Russia vows revenge for election-day attacks as poll shows ruling party win",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/russia-vows-revenge-for-election-day-attacks-as-poll-shows-ruling-8783179",
        "published": "2026-09-20T21:32:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Russia vows revenge for election-day attacks as poll shows ruling party win",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/russia-vows-revenge-for-election-day-attacks-as-poll-shows-ruling-8794419",
        "published": "2026-09-20T22:36:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Meduza (English)",
        "title": "Russia’s election commission says five parties are on track to enter the State Duma. Ruling United Russia had 57.19% with results in from more than a third of precincts.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/russias-election-commission-says-five-parties-are-on-track-to-enter",
        "published": "2026-09-20T23:47:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Jakarta Post",
        "title": "Russia's ruling party on track to win wartime election after drones strike Mosco...",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/russias-ruling-party-on-track-to-win-wartime-election-after-drones",
        "published": "2026-09-21T01:00:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Russia vows revenge for election-day attacks as poll shows ruling party win",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/russia-vows-revenge-for-election-day-attacks-as-poll-shows-ruling",
        "published": "2026-09-21T01:49:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Putin's party set to retain power after Russia vote hit by cyberattacks, drones",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/putins-party-set-to-retain-power-after-russia-vote-hit-by",
        "published": "2026-09-21T02:26:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Russia launched more than 2,000 drones at Ukraine over past week, Zelensky says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/russia-launched-more-than-2-000-drones-at-ukraine-over-past-week",
        "published": "2026-09-21T04:17:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Asia Times",
        "title": "Why Trump is so helpful to Russia on the Ukraine war",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/why-trump-is-so-helpful-to-russia-on-the-ukraine-war",
        "published": "2026-09-21T04:20:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Putin's party set to retain power after Russia vote hit by cyberattacks, drones",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/putins-party-set-to-retain-power-after-russia-vote-hit-by-8852557",
        "published": "2026-09-21T05:28:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Insider",
        "title": "Ukraine's answer to Russia's new jet-powered drones takes a Shahed-like form",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/ukraines-answer-to-russias-new-jet-powered-drones-takes-a-shahed-like",
        "published": "2026-09-21T05:37:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}