Drones Strike Russian Engels-2 Airbase, Home to Strategic Bombers Tu-95MS and Tu-160

A large-scale drone strike targeted Russia’s Engels-2 military airbase in the Saratov region, triggering powerful explosions and secondary ammunition detonations, Russian media outlet ASTRA reported on March 20.

Explosions were heard in Engels starting at 4:00 am, with thick black smoke rising over the airfield.

Satellite imagery and geo-located videos indicate that the fire broke out at a missile and artillery storage site. The blast was so intense that damaged buildings were seen in nearby civilian areas—potentially from exploding munitions or Russia’s air defenses attempting to intercept the drones.

The Engels-2 airbase is home to Russia’s strategic bomber fleet, including Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers, which Moscow has used to launch long-range missile strikes on Ukraine.

The facility is located 620 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and has been repeatedly targeted by drones since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

According to the governor of Saratov region, local authorities evacuated residents from areas near the airbase following the attack. The explosions were so powerful that they were reportedly heard in Saratov, a city located just across the Volga River from Engels.

Due to the incident, flights at Saratov and Samara airports were temporarily suspended, Russia’s aviation agency Rosaviatsiya confirmed.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that 54 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Saratov region, while a total of 132 drones targeted Russia and occupied Crimea overnight.

This is not the first time Engels has been targeted. Previously, Ukrainian drones struck the Rosrezerv “Kristall” oil depot in the city.

Earlier, a drone attack struck the “Kavkazskaya” oil transfer facility in Russia’s Krasnodar region, causing a large fire that continued burning for hours. The fire later spread and covered 3,750 square meters.