UAVs attack Russian cities of Saratov and Engels, targeting key airfield

On the night of August 26, explosions rang out in the Russian cities of Saratov and Engels. the Russians announced a drone attack and blamed Ukraine for the shelling. The airfield in Engels is home to TU-95 strategic bombers, and 11 of them were reported to have taken off during the incident.

The governor of the Saratov region, Roman Busargin, as well as Russian Telegram channels reported that.

It was stated that anti-aircraft defenses supposedly intercepted the drones that had targeted Russian cities. However, the wreckage landed on residential buildings.

The tallest building in Saratov, with 38 floors, sustained damage from a UAV attack.

The fact of the drone raid on Monday morning was confirmed by the governor of the Saratov region, Roman Busargin.

"Early in the morning, the UAV was eliminated by means of air defense. There are facts of debris falling into residential buildings in Saratov and Engels. All emergency services are working in an intensified mode," he said.

He said that some "debris" fell onto a house in the "Volga sky" residential complex. The complex's website claims that it is not just the tallest building in the city, but also the tallest in the entire Volga region, measuring 128.6 meters in height.

It's a 12-kilometer distance from the house to the military base and the airfield in Engels.

It's worth mentioning that Engels has an airbase that serves as a home for Russian strategic aircraft, including Tu–160 and Tu–95 MS bombers that carry out missile launches over Ukraine.

^{A high-rise building was damaged as a result of an alleged Ukrainian drone strike in Saratov. Photo: Roman Busargin}

As a result, a woman in Saratov was hospitalized with serious injuries, while there were no casualties in Engels.

It was later reported that a total of 4 people were injured in Saratov.

^{A high-rise building was damaged as a result of an alleged Ukrainian drone strike in Engels. Photo: Roman Busargin}

The cities of Saratov and Engels are located opposite each other on the right and left banks of the Volga.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, 20 drones were reportedly shot down over various regions of the country, including:

9 in the Saratov region,

3 in the Kursk region,

2 in each of the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Tula regions,

1 each in Oryol and Ryazan.

The Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on this attack.

For reference:

It should be noted that the primary base for Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers is situated near Engels, approximately 700 kilometers away from Ukraine. The Russian military employs them for airstrikes on Ukrainian territory.

The air base known as "Engels-2" is home to the 121st Guards Sevastopol and 184th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiments, equipped with Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers.

It is worth mentioning that a month ago, due to a drone attack, explosions rang out at the Engels airfield in the Saratov region, where Russian strategic aviation is located. According to RBC-Ukraine sources, Ukraine's intelligence carried out this operation.

It was previously reported that there were also explosions in Engels in April, and the Russian side later complained about a drone attack.

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