Ukraine Strikes Russia’s Engels Strategic Bomber Base as Fires Break Out in Saratov

Head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation confirmed that Ukrainian drones struck the Engels airbase in Russia overnight—a key hub for the Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers used for long-range missile attacks on Ukraine, Andrii Kovalenko reported on November 28.

“Saratov, Engels—the Russians really enjoyed the nighttime attack. Aircraft stationed at Engels carry out strikes on Ukraine. The enemy has recently been preparing another combined strike on our country,” the agency’s chief said.

Local residents reported a series of explosions near both the Engels military airfield and the nearby oil refinery, according to regional Telegram channels.

Russia’s defense ministry claimed its air defenses shot down 136 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions, including 46 over the Rostov region, 30 over the Saratov region, 29 over occupied Crimea, 12 over the Black Sea, 6 over the Bryansk region, 5 over Volgograd, 2 over Voronezh, 2 over the Moscow region, 2 over the Sea of Azov, and 1 each over Kursk and Kaluga regions.

Russian outlet ASTRA reported multiple fires in Saratov following the attack. Using eyewitness visuals, the outlet geolocated air-defense activity over the river, filmed from Zavodskaya Street.

Also, smoke was rising from a residential area near Shelkovichnaya and Novouzenskaya streets, and a confirmed fire at 68A Novouzenskaya Street.

Russian officials have not publicly commented on damage at the Engels airfield.

Earlier, a satellite review of Russia’s Engels-2 strategic aviation base showed more than 130 trucks positioned on an aircraft parking apron, raising questions about their purpose and possible connection to bomber operations.

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