Ukraine launches massive drone attack on Russia’s Engels air base
- 20 March, 10:07
Ukrainian drone attack on Engels air base in Russia’s southern Saratov region triggered fire and injured two people, local authorities said on Thursday.
Video footage shared on social media showed the moment of the strike as well as the aftermath of the massive strike in Engels air base located about 500 kilometers from the border with Ukraine. Saratov region’s governor Roman Busargin described the attack as the “largest ever” drone strike on the region since the start of the war three years ago. As a result of the attack, a hospital, two kindergartens and at least 30 homes were damaged, while residents were evacuated from the area, Busargin said. Russian Mash Telegram channel reported that four explosions were heard in the area at around 4 a.m. local time. Local authorities announced a state of emergency and temporarily suspended flights in Saratov and Samara airports in response to the attack.
The Security Service of Ukraine, known as SBU, confirmed the reports about striking Engels air base, stating that the attack was carried out jointly with, with the Special Operations Forces units of Ukraine.
The General Staff of Ukrainian Armed Forces also reported that attack. "This military facility is used by Russian aviation to launch missile strikes on the territory of Ukraine and terrorist attacks against the civilian population," the General Staff stated in a Telegram post.
A source within the Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council revealed that a large number of missiles, including Kh-101 cruise missiles were destroyed during the strike.
It should be noted that Engels air base is home to the 184th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment and 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment.
