A devastating Ukrainian drone attack struck Engels-2, a key Russian military airbase in the Saratov region, early this morning, igniting ammunition warehouses and sparking a towering mushroom cloud visible over six miles away. The base, home to Russia’s nuclear-capable Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers, saw massive secondary explosions, scattering debris across a three-mile radius and damaging dozens of nearby homes, a hospital, and other structures.
Reports suggest the strike targeted missile stockpiles, possibly including newly delivered Kh-101 cruise missiles, and an aviation fuel facility. Russian air defenses downed 132 Ukrainian drones overnight, 54 in Saratov alone, but not before significant destruction unfolded. Local authorities ordered an urgent evacuation and shuttered schools, including in nearby Saratov city, following the 4 a.m. assault—described as the war’s largest drone attack in the region.
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Engels-2, a hub for Vladimir Putin’s 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, has been a launchpad for devastating strikes on Ukraine. The attack comes amid escalating violence, with Putin’s forces simultaneously “carpet bombing” Kropyvnytskyi in central Ukraine, wounding 10, including four children, and leaving a woman with 90% burns fighting for survival. Over 30 explosions rocked the city, targeting rail, industrial, and residential areas in a two-hour barrage—the worst of the conflict there to date.
Despite recent peace talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump, hostilities show no signs of abating. Putin, who claimed he ordered restraint on energy strikes, pummeled Ukrainian infrastructure with 171 drones overnight, 75 of which were intercepted. The unrelenting attacks on both sides underscore the fragility of ceasefire hopes, as civilians bear the brunt of the intensifying war.
Key Points: Ukraine Strikes Russian Airfield, Escalating Conflict
- Ukrainian Drone Attack on Engels-2: Ukraine launched a massive drone assault on Engels-2, a Russian airbase in the Saratov region housing nuclear-capable Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers. The strike triggered a giant mushroom cloud and secondary explosions from ammunition warehouses, scattering debris over three miles.
- Targeted Assets: The attack hit suspected missile stockpiles (possibly Kh-101s), an aviation fuel facility, and caused damage to a hospital, homes, and other structures. Russian defenses downed 132 drones, including 54 in Saratov.
- Local Impact: Authorities ordered evacuations and closed schools in the area, including Saratov city, after the 4 a.m. strike—the war’s largest drone attack in the region.
- Russian Retaliation: Simultaneously, Putin’s forces “carpet bombed” Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine, with over 30 explosions targeting rail, industrial, and residential areas. Ten were wounded, including four children; one woman suffered 90% burns.
- Escalation Amid Peace Talks: Despite recent Zelensky-Trump discussions, Russia launched 171 drones across Ukraine (75 downed), hitting infrastructure despite Putin’s claimed restraint on energy strikes.
- Strategic Significance: Engels-2 is a critical base for Russia’s bomber fleet, used for strikes on Ukraine, highlighting the ongoing tit-for-tat military escalation.
- Civilian Toll: Both attacks underscore the war’s intensifying human cost, with residential areas hit, schools damaged, and civilians urged to flee conflict zones.
