A Russian Tu-95 bomber taxies before takeoff. A Russian Tu-95 bomber taxies before takeoff at an airbase in Russia, Thursday, July 8, 2021. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP
Russia has declared a state of emergency after a Ukrainian drone strike on a strategic bomber air base in the Saratov region triggered a huge blast and fire which caused serious damage to nearby homes.
Ukrainian forces claimed responsibility for the attack on the Engels-2 air base, which houses Russian Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry by email for comment.
Why It Matters
Russia rarely acknowledges attacks on its military installations during the war. Authorities often attempt to cover up incidents or downplay the extent of the damage. The declaration of a state of emergency underscores the severity of the destruction caused by the attack.
What To Know
The attack on the Engels-2 air base was conducted jointly by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, sources from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine told RBC-Ukraine.
The airfield houses Russia's Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers, which are capable of carrying out nuclear and conventional long-range strikes. The aircraft have repeatedly been used by Russia's military to launch missile attacks on Ukraine in the war.
"This military facility is used by Russian aviation to launch missile strikes on the territory of Ukraine and terrorist attacks against the civilian population," a statement by the General Staff read.
The military base is located some 500 miles southeast of Moscow, and it has been targeted several times throughout the war.
Footage from the attack showed a huge plume of smoke rising from the base and an intense blaze. Other footage showed that the blast completely destroyed some homes, tearing off roofs and blowing them across the street.
Roman Busargin, the governor of Russia's Saratov region said 30 residential homes were damaged in the attack. Evacuations were carried out in the area "for safety reasons," he said.
Ukrainian OSINT journalists said the drone strike hit an ammunition depot.
Andriy Kovalenko, an official on Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said a number of missiles, including Kh-101 cruise missiles, were destroyed in the blast.
What People Are Saying
Sources within the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told Ukrainian news outlets: "The SBU and its partners continue to work with surgical accuracy on key military facilities of the Russian Federation, which are absolutely legitimate military targets. Such special operations reduce the enemy's ability to terrorize Ukrainian cities with missile strikes."
Andriy Kovalenko , an official on Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council,said on his Telegram channel on Thursday: "At Engels, the Russians lost missiles, including the Kh-101, as a result of the strike. The number will be known later. This airfield stores the largest number of missiles used by strategic aviation for strikes on Ukraine."
Saratov Region Governor Roman Busargin said on his Telegram channel on Thursday: "Today, Saratov and Engels suffered the largest attack by drones to date. All emergency services remain on high alert to eliminate the consequences.
"City authorities, in coordination with the relevant departments, are documenting all damage to civilian infrastructure in order to take the necessary measures."
What Happens Next
Russia's Investigative Committee said an investigation has been launched into the attack.
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This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 12:26 PM.