Ukraine targets Russian airbase with drone attack

Unverified footage on Russian Telegram channels indicated a huge explosion radiating from the airfield, destroying surrounding cottages. Russia's defence ministry reported that air defence had downed 132 Ukrainian drones in Russian territory. Video confirmed by Reuters by the location and design of buildings indicated a cloud of smoke above smashed cottages.

Tu-160 nuclear-capable heavy strategic bombers

The Engels base, dating from early Soviet days, is home to Russia's Tupolev Tu-160 nuclear-capable heavy strategic bombers, unofficially referred to as White Swans. Roman Busargin, the Saratov governor, stated that there had been a Ukrainian drone strike on the city of Engels that had set an airfield ablaze, and that residents nearby had been evacuated.

The Russian military airbase Engels doesn’t fall under any agreements. Ammo and fuel depots have been detonating all morning.

If Russians love war so much, they better love inhaling toxic fumes and listening to explosions too. pic.twitter.com/EZeLNRRWye

— Victoria (@victoriaslog) March 20, 2025

Emergency had been declared locally but provided no details

He did not name the Engels base as such, but it is the principal airfield in the region. Engels district chief Maxim Leonov confirmed that a state of emergency had been declared locally but provided no details. Reuters could not verify independently what had occurred at the airfield.

Creating a massive five-day blaze that destroyed the fuel store

Ukraine has in the past staged attacks on Engels airbase going back as far as December 2022. In January it said that it had destroyed an oil storage depot supplying the base, creating a massive five-day blaze that destroyed the fuel store. An official from one of Ukraine's security agencies had reported at the time that the base had come under attack in a drone bombing which hit the facility storing guided missiles and bombs.