Russia claims downing of 132 Ukrainian UAVs amid reported strike on Engels military airfield
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that on the night of March 20, air defense forces reportedly shot down 132 Ukrainian drones. It was noted that the city of Engels in the Saratov region experienced a large-scale drone attack, and the Engels military airfield was likely hit.
The Russian Defense Ministry, Russian media, and Governor Roman Busargin reported this.
"Last night, 132 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed by regular air defense systems," the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
The Russian defense ministry is announcing a massive attack on its regions. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the air defense forces allegedly shot down "Ukrainian" drones over:
- Saratov region – 54 units,
- Voronezh region – 40,
- Belgorod region – 22,
- Rostov region – 9,
- Kursk region – 3,
- Lipetsk region – 1 UAV,
- as well as over the territory of the occupied Crimean peninsula – 3 drones.
Russian media reported that, according to Rosaviatsia (Russian aviation), restrictions on the operation of Samara and Saratov airports have been introduced.
According to Roman Busagin, the governor of the Saratov region, this was "the most massive UAV attack of all time" for Saratov and Engels.
As a result, windows were allegedly broken in the Engelsk city hospital, where a woman was injured, as well as in two kindergartens and a school. Due to the attack, Engels's schoolchildren were transferred to distance learning.
In addition, a private house near Sokolovaya Gora in Saratov was damaged by falling drone debris.
Meanwhile, Russian Telegram channels write that in Engels, residents saw heavy smoke in the "3rd Flight Town" neighborhood, located approximately 10 kilometers from the Engels-2 airfield.
Authorities reported the evacuation of residents living near the military airfield. Later, Busargin confirmed both the fire at the airfield and the ongoing evacuation efforts.
"For safety reasons, due to the fire on the airfield, those living in the territory of the SNT (garden societies) adjacent to the facility are being evacuated. All operational services are on site," the official said.
According to him, approximately 30 private and summer houses in several garden societies were also damaged as a result of the UAV attack.
Photo: Telegram channel Astra
It should be noted that the Engels-2 military airfield is home to Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft of the 22nd Heavy Bomber Air Division of Russia.
For reference:
On the night of January 14, unknown strike UAVs attacked several regions in the Russian Federation. As a result, a large fire broke out at an industrial enterprise in the city of Engels, Saratov region. Residents of Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan), where the Orgsintez plant was engulfed in fire, also complained about the UAV attack.
Later, it was reported that the Ukrainian Defense Forces had again struck the infrastructure of the Engels-2 Russian military airfield on the night of January 14. The Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft of the 22nd Heavy Bomber Air Division of the Russian Federation are based there.
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