Explosion hits Russian airbase after Ukrainian drone strike

The Russian Engels-2 airbase, located in Saratov Oblast, Western Russia, was the target of a Ukrainian drone strike on Tuesday morning (20), resulting in a large explosion in the military facility's ammunition depots.

According to preliminary information, the impact caused significant damage to a nearby village, with reports of shattered windows and structures affected by the air displacement generated by the explosion. Videos circulating on social media showed a plume of thick smoke and secondary explosions, suggesting that ammunition stocks may have been hit.

The Engels-2 base is one of Russia’s most strategic facilities, used as a staging post for strategic bombers from the country’s nuclear fleet. In recent months, the facility has been the target of multiple attacks attributed to Ukraine as part of its strategy to weaken Russia’s air capabilities.

Russian officials have not yet released details of casualties or the extent of damage to the airbase. The Russian Defense Ministry said that “all threats were neutralized” and that air defenses intercepted the attack, although the explosion suggests that at least one drone managed to hit its target.

The attack comes amid escalating hostilities in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with Kiev increasingly using long-range drones to target military infrastructure inside Russian territory.

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Daños significativos en una aldea cercana a la Base Aérea "Engels-2" en el óblast de Sarátov, Rusia Occidental, tras la explosión de hoy causada por un ataque con un dron ucraniano contra los depósitos de municiones de la base. En el video, se puede ver y oír humo y… pic.twitter.com/8YRrvAyum1 — K13 News (@K13News) March 20, 2025