Russia Scrambles to Hide Its Strategic Bombers From Ukrainian Drones, Builds 16 Giant Shelters

Russia is building 16 massive aircraft shelters at its Engels-2 air base in the Saratov region in an apparent effort to conceal and protect its strategic bombers from Ukrainian drone strikes. The construction follows repeated Ukrainian attacks on the facility, which houses Tu-160 and Tu-95MS bombers used to launch cruise missiles against Ukraine.

According to Defence Blog on October 13, satellite imagery published by open-source intelligence group AviVector shows that Russia has nearly completed the steel frameworks for the first three shelters.

Images captured by Airbus Defence and Space on October 12 reveal three large structures standing on newly constructed concrete platforms, each connected to the airfield by paved taxiways.

Construction began in early September, when AviVector first identified preparations for the 16-shelter project.

Each shelter measures approximately 63 by 63 meters (207 by 207 feet), with walls reaching 7 meters (23 feet) and a maximum height of around 17 meters (56 feet).

The structures are large enough to accommodate Russia’s Tu-160 supersonic strategic bombers, which measure approximately 54 meters in length, as well as the smaller Tu-95MS aircraft.

Satellite imagery also shows earth barriers behind the shelters, apparently designed to redirect engine exhaust. Their positioning suggests that Russian bombers could start their engines inside the structures before taxiing directly onto the airfield.

The project could significantly change how Russia conceals its strategic aviation assets at Engels-2, where bombers have traditionally remained exposed on open parking areas.

The new shelters would make it more difficult for satellite surveillance to determine which aircraft are stationed at the base while potentially offering protection against Ukrainian drone strikes and debris.

However, the structures currently consist only of steel frameworks, and their ability to withstand attacks will depend on the materials used for their walls and roofs.

Engels-2, located approximately 600 kilometers (370 miles) from the Ukrainian front line, is one of Russia’s primary strategic aviation bases and has repeatedly been targeted by Ukrainian long-range drones since December 2022.

In July 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) had destroyed a Tu-95 strategic bomber at Engels. Satellite imagery released afterward appeared to confirm the aircraft’s destruction.

Another Tu-95 was damaged during an August 28 drone strike conducted by the SBU’s Alpha unit.

The Tu-95 is no longer in production, meaning Russia cannot replace destroyed aircraft with newly manufactured bombers of the same type.

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