Russian base Engels-2, a major Russian base which contains ammunitions and missiles, was attacked by Ukrainian drones and triggered a huge mushroom cloud in the sky
Russia: Explosions hit Engels airbase in Saratov Oblast
A Ukrainian drone attack on an ammunition warehouse triggered a large mushroom cloud extending high into the sky.
The huge explosion was caused by the attack on Engels-2, home of a military airport for Russia ’s nuclear strategic bomber aircraft. The attack was the largest drone strike of the war in the Saratov region, a favourite base of Vladimir Putin from which he has staged several missile strikes on Ukraine. Engels-2 is a major base for Russia’s Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft, and warehouses nearby are believed to store deadly Kh-101 and Kh-55 types missiles among other weapons. The attacks were mainly by Iranian-supplied Shahed drones.
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The warehouses contain missiles and a military-linked aviation fuel oil facility were hit and ablaze in the Ukrainian blitzkrieg, and there was damage to a hospital from falling drone debris after it was downed by air defences. An urgent evacuation of civilians “for safety reasons” was ordered and schools were closed in the area.
On the attack of Engels-2, home to Putin’s 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, one Telegram channel wrote: “In the middle of the night, reports started coming about an alleged hit. By morning, mushrooms with an uncharacteristic colour for oil products were visible in the city.
“It can be cautiously assumed the Russians’ ammunition storage has exploded as a result of an encounter with high-precision [drones].”
Engels City Clinical Hospital No. 1 was hit by drone debris, injuring one woman, and Russian sources claimed a school and two kindergartens were damaged. Ten people were wounded – including four children. A woman was fighting for her life with 90 per cent burns to her body.
Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, said: “Kropyvnytskyi. This is what Putin’s ceasefire looks like. Russia takes great pleasure in attacking civilians.”
It came as Putin’s forces “carpet bombed” central Ukrainian city Kropyvnytskyi in a thunderous terror onslaught striking rail and industrial sites, as well as homes with eight people including a child injured. Around 30 explosions were reported.
Reports suggested Ukraine’s 17th aviation technical support base – military unit A-1840 – was hit in Kropyvnytskyi, capital of Kirovohrad region, with a targeting of cruise missiles and other ammunition.
Meanwhile, an inferno at Kavkazskaya – hit on Wednesday by Ukraine – was expanding and posing a threat to Russian export supplies. Amid Ukrainian attacks, Russia evacuated a border zone in Belgorod region.
Residents were told: “If you do not comply with this decision, you may die.”
