Ukrainian drones have reportedly struck the Engels-2 air base in Russia’s Saratov region, marking the largest drone assault on the area since the war began. The base houses Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers, which Russia has used for missile attacks on Ukraine.
Saratov Governor Roman Busargin confirmed the attack on social media, stating that a fire broke out at the airfield, prompting evacuations. While he did not name the base directly, videos circulating online show smoke rising from the site.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, air defense systems intercepted 132 drones overnight, 54 of them over Saratov. Busargin also reported damage to 30 residential homes.
Ukrainian officials have consistently maintained that Russian military bases are legitimate targets, with attacks on Russian soil often attributed to Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR).
In response to the attack, flight restrictions have been imposed in Saratov and Engels as emergency services work to assess the damage.
