On September 21, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported numerous signals from Russia indicating its readiness to escalate the war. He emphasized that the upcoming UN General Assembly will discuss how to achieve peace collectively.
Escalation of Conflict and Elections in Russia
During a massive drone attack on Moscow on September 20, authorities did not activate sirens, fearing it could reduce voter turnout in the State Duma elections. According to analysts from ISW, mobile communication was also restricted during the night of the attack. At the time of the vote counting, United Russia was reported to have received 57.83% of the votes after processing 93% of the protocols.
- CPRF — 13.81%
- LDPR — 8.93%
- New People — 7.97%
- Fair Russia — 4.96%
Russia's Plans for Drone Production
According to information from Politico, Russia plans to significantly increase its drone production. By 2030, the country aims to produce up to 130,000 drones, and by 2035, up to 350,000. A new factory is being built in Alabuga, which will allow for the production of up to 500 tons of aviation carbon fiber per year.
These new capacities will provide for the production of approximately 28,000 drone airframes of the "Geran" type annually, representing a +78% increase over current production. Experts warn that this poses a threat not only to Ukraine but to all of Europe.