Engels.Photo:Screenshot from the video
The Ukrainian military struck the Engels strategic airfield in the Saratov region of Russia. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 20 March. The operation involved units of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Special Operations Forces (SOF) in cooperation with other units of the Defence Forces.
Fire on an airfield: detonation and consequences
According to the General Staff, a fire, a series of explosions and secondary detonation of ammunition were recorded on the territory of the airfield after the strike. This indicates significant damage to the infrastructure of the facility, which is used by Russian aviation for missile strikes against Ukraine and terrorist attacks against civilians.
Official Russian sources traditionally try to downplay the scale of the incident, but local residents report loud explosions and fire that could be seen for tens of kilometres.
Ukraine knows about Russia’s strategic facilities
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stressed that it has detailed information about important Russian military targets, which allows it to launch precision strikes. At the same time, the Ukrainian military adheres to international humanitarian law, trying to avoid civilian casualties.
The strike was part of a massive drone attack on Russian territory. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that it had allegedly shot down 132 Ukrainian drones overnight, but there is no independent confirmation of this information.
Engels is a key base for Russian strategic aviation
The Engels airfield is one of the main basing points for Russian strategic bombers, including Tu-160 and Tu-95MS, which are used to launch cruise missiles at Ukraine. Therefore, strikes on this location not only reduce Russia’s combat capability, but also respond to massive missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The Russian leadership is expected to make official statements on the incident, but previous experience suggests that they will try to conceal the true extent of the damage.
