Ukraine’s Drone Forces Strike Russia's Engels-2 Airfield, Igniting Fuel Tanks for Strategic Bombers

Operators of the 14th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Aerial Systems, in coordination with other components of Ukraine's Defense Forces, struck the infrastructure of the ‘Engels-2’ military airfield near Russia’s Saratov during the night of January 13-14.

This was confirmed by the 14th Separate Regiment in an official statement to UNITED24 Media.

The airfield hosts Russia’s strategic aviation, including Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft from the 22nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division.

“As a result of the strike, tanks containing rare aviation fuel for the Tu-160 heavy strategic bombers caught fire at the ‘Crystal’ oil depot. These bombers are used by Russia to target civilian infrastructure and terrorize Ukraine's civilian population,” the statement reads.

“The multi-day operation by Ukraine’s Defense Forces to reduce the capabilities of the enemy’s strategic aviation has been successfully completed.”

The regiment added that they are doing everything possible to ensure the Engels firefighting brigades, who had just extinguished the flames from the previous strike, remain busy amid Russia’s “worsening economic situation.”

Earlier reports indicated that drones targeted Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Tatarstan region, and the city of Engels in the Saratov region, causing fires and disruptions to industrial operations, according to Russian media outlet ASTRA on January 14.