Moscow accuses Kyiv of attempting to disrupt State Duma elections with strikes on September 19–20

Russia’s Ministry of Defense accused Ukraine of attempting to disrupt elections to the Russian State Duma with massive strikes on Russian territory on September 19 and 20, promising in response to intensify strikes on Kyiv.

According to the Russian military department, over the course of 24 hours air defense forces shot down 1,951 Ukrainian drones and eight long-range cruise missiles. One more missile, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, “veered off course and fell in an uninhabited area.”

The ministry separately reported repelling an attack on the Moscow region. All “Flamingo” missiles fired at the capital were, according to the Russian side, intercepted on approach.

“The attempt at a massive attack on Moscow has failed. The enemy did not achieve its objectives,” the Russian Defense Ministry’s statement reads.

As a “response,” the Russian command promised to “continue and intensify strikes with precision weapons against military targets in Kyiv.”

On the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, “voting” for the State Duma had by that point concluded early.