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Satellite Imagery Reveals Damage to Key Russian Bomber Fuel Depot in Engels
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
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Satellite imagery has confirmed that a major Russian fuel storage site in Engels, Saratov region, was struck and set ablaze during a Ukrainian drone operation on June 6.
The facility, known as the Kristall oil depot, supplies aviation fuel to Engels-2 airbase, home to Russia’s strategic bombers, including the Tu-95MS and Tu-160.
According to Militarnyi, citing satellite imagery released by open-source intelligence group AviVector via X, at least four fuel tanks were on fire across two separate sections of the depot.
Today, a long-range Ukrainian UAV strike hit the "Kristall" oil depot near Engels Air Base, which had already been targeted in previous attacks. pic.twitter.com/w68yzEgi5r
— AviVector (@avivector) June 6, 2025
According to Russian officials, the attack occurred around 3:00 a.m. local time. Saratov regional governor Roman Busargin acknowledged the drone strike, stating that a fire had broken out at an industrial facility in Engels as a result.
The Kristall depot plays a critical logistical role in Russia’s long-range airstrike capabilities. Aircraft from Engels-2 have been used to launch cruise missile attacks against Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
The June 6 strike marks Ukraine’s first reported attack on Russia’s fuel and energy infrastructure in several months. The previous incident took place on March 19, when Ukrainian drones targeted the Kavkaz oil transshipment point in Russia’s Krasnodar region. That attack led to the rupture of oil tanks and a large-scale fire that lasted for days.
The Kavkaz terminal is a key node in Russia’s oil export chain. It connects rail deliveries to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s system, handling up to 6 million tons of crude annually en route to the port of Novorossiysk and international markets.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Defense Forces launched a coordinated drone strike on key Russian military sites, including the Engels oil depot and Dyagilevo Airbase, on June 6. According to the General Staff, multiple fuel tanks were hit, sparking large fires and explosions. Additional strikes targeted a Russian logistics hub in the Kursk region.
