Ukraine Strikes Russian Strategic Bomber Base with Drones, Massive Blast Reported

A Ukrainian drone attack targeted Russia’s Engels airfield, home to nuclear-capable bombers, causing a massive explosion and fire.

March 20, 2025: Moscow/Kyiv – In a dramatic escalation, Ukraine launched a massive drone strike on Russia’s Engels airfield, a key strategic bomber base, triggering a huge explosion and fire over 700 km from the frontline, Russian and Ukrainian officials confirmed on Thursday.

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Key Highlights:

✅ Engels airbase, home to Tupolev Tu-160 nuclear bombers, suffered significant damage.
✅ 132 Ukrainian drones were intercepted, but some hit their targets, causing secondary explosions.
✅ Videos show a massive fireball and smoke plume rising from the airfield.
✅ Local residents were evacuated, and ten people were injured.
✅ Ukraine says the base was used for missile attacks on its territory.

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Explosion Caught on Camera

Verified videos reviewed by Reuters show a massive explosion expanding from the airfield, destroying nearby cottages and causing panic in the Engels district of Saratov Oblast. Another footage captured thick smoke billowing into the sky, with secondary explosions suggesting stored ammunition was hit.

Roman Busargin, Governor of Saratov, confirmed a Ukrainian drone attack but did not mention Engels airbase directly. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry stated that its forces successfully hit key targets, causing critical damage to Russian military infrastructure.

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Ukraine’s Retaliatory Strikes

This is not the first Ukrainian attack on Engels airbase. In December 2022, Ukraine conducted a drone raid, and in January 2023, it hit an oil depot linked to the base. The most recent strike comes amid reports of increased Russian missile attacks on Ukraine, with Kyiv determined to target Russia’s long-range strike capabilities.

Russian Response & Countermeasures

🚨 Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that its air defenses shot down 132 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions.

🚨 Local officials declared a state of emergency, while Russian Telegram channels reported that PD-2 and Liutyi drones were used in the attack.

🚨 Residents found debris from Ukrainian drones in their gardens, highlighting the intensity of the strike.

What’s Next?

This strike marks one of the deepest Ukrainian attacks inside Russian territory since the war began. The impact on Russia’s nuclear-capable bomber fleet remains unclear, but if major damage was inflicted, it could significantly disrupt Russia’s airstrike capabilities on Ukraine.

As tensions escalate, Moscow is expected to retaliate, raising concerns of further escalation in the conflict.

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Tags:

Ukraine Russia War, Ukraine Drone Strike, Engels Airbase Attack, Russia Nuclear Bombers, Russia Ukraine Conflict, Kyiv Strikes Russia, Ukrainian Drone Warfare, Putin Ukraine War, Russia Retaliation