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On Thursday, Ukraine launched a drone attack on Russia's Engels airbase, causing a massive explosion and fire. The base, located about 700 km (435 miles) from the front lines, is home to Russia's nuclear-capable Tupolev Tu-160 bombers, also known as "White Swans."
A video circulating on Russian Telegram channels, verified by Reuters, showed a large blast at the airfield, damaging nearby houses. The explosion triggered a fire, and local authorities evacuated nearby residents. However, Russian officials have not confirmed the extent of the damage to the airbase.
Russia’s defense ministry stated that its air defenses shot down 132 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions. Meanwhile, Roman Busargin, the governor of Saratov, confirmed a drone attack in Engels but did not explicitly mention the airbase. Engels district head Maxim Leonov declared a state of emergency but did not provide further details.
NEW: Ukraine reportedly hits Russian airfield housing Putin’s nuclear bombers, triggering massive mushroom cloud explosion. pic.twitter.com/1DCxNP3OMU
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) March 20, 2025
Ukraine Attacks Russian Oil Refinery
In addition to the airbase attack, Ukraine also targeted an oil refinery in Syzran, located in Russia's Samara region. According to regional governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, emergency services were responding to the incident, but there were no reported casualties. Telegram channels Baza and Mash reported that the attack caused a fire, but the extent of the damage remains unclear.
The Russian defense ministry claimed that its air defense systems destroyed nine Ukrainian drones overnight in Bryansk, Tatarstan, Tula, and over the Black Sea. The ongoing drone attacks highlight the increasing reach of Ukraine’s military operations deep inside Russian territory.
