Ukraine strikes Russia’s Engels bomber base in drone attack, sparking fire and explosion

Ukraine carried out a drone strike on Russia’s Engels strategic bomber base on Thursday, causing a fire and explosion nearly 700 km from the front lines, according to a Reuters report. A video from the scene showed smoke rising above damaged structures.

The Engels airbase, operational since the Soviet era, houses Russia’s nuclear-capable Tupolev Tu-160 heavy bombers, known as "White Swans." Saratov Governor Roman Busargin confirmed an attack on an airfield in Engels, stating that a fire had broken out. Although he did not specifically mention the Engels base, it is the primary airfield in the area. Engels district head Maxim Leonov declared a local state of emergency but provided no further details.

Ukraine has previously targeted the Engels base, with attacks dating back to December 2022. In January, Kyiv claimed to have struck an oil depot serving the base, igniting a fire that lasted five days. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly stated that Russian military bases are legitimate targets, and Kyiv frequently employs long-range drones for such strikes. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) have taken credit for similar operations in the past.

The Engels-2 airfield, located about 500 km east of Ukraine’s border and 730 km southeast of Moscow, is a key hub for Russia’s Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers. The Moscow Times reported that it has been attacked multiple times since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue. U.S. President Donald Trump recently held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. While Putin rejected a U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire, he agreed to a 30-day pause in strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.