Russia’s strategic Engels-2 air base was reportedly struck and set ablaze in the early hours of Thursday, according to Russian monitoring channels and local media.
Residents of the neighboring cities of Saratov and Engels reported numerous low-flying drones followed by a succession of powerful explosions. Videos published by local Telegram channels captured the sound of drone engines overhead and blasts near the military airfield.
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Russian outlet Astra later reported that its location and analysis of footage published by Exilenova+ confirmed a fire at the Engels military airfield. The extent of any damage to aircraft, ammunition depots or other military infrastructure remains unknown.
Russian authorities had not publicly confirmed a strike on the base at the time of publication.
Engels is a major hub for Russia’s long-range aviation and hosts nuclear-capable Tu-160 and Tu-95 strategic bombers. Russian forces routinely use aircraft operating from the base to launch Kh-101 and other cruise missiles against targets across Ukraine.
The high-value facility has repeatedly come under Ukrainian drone attack since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. A major strike in March 2025 set the airfield ablaze and triggered secondary explosions, with Ukraine reporting that an ammunition storage facility had been hit.
The latest reported attack follows a broader Ukrainian campaign against military and energy infrastructure deep inside Russia. Earlier this month, a drone strike damaged the nearby Saratov oil refinery and forced it to halt operations, according to industry sources cited by Reuters.
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