Russia alleges UAV attack on Saratov refinery, explosions rock Engels
Photo: Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council
On the night of February 11, Russian air defense reportedly intercepted 40 Ukrainian drones. Russian authorities claimed that the drones targeted a refinery in the Saratov region, with over a dozen explosions reported in the Engels area, near a Russian Aerospace Forces airbase.
The Russian Defense Ministry and Russian Telegram channels reported this.
As stated in the Russian Defense Ministry:
- 18 UAVs were allegedly shot down over the Saratov region,
- 13 over the Rostov region,
- six over the Bryansk region,
- two over the Volgograd region,
- one over the Belgorod region.
Engels
According to SHOT and Mash channels, at least 11 explosions occurred over Engels at approximately 4 a.m. local time. Sounds resembling machine gun fire were also heard, all emanating from the direction of the local airfield.
Engels is home to a military airfield where Russian strategic bombers are stationed. Preliminary reports suggest that several airborne targets were reportedly destroyed in the vicinity.
Shortly before the explosions, the governor of the Saratov region warned that the area was under threat of drone attacks.
Later, SHOT published a video in which, as claimed, one of the powerful explosions in Engels that night can be heard.
Saratov region
Also, at the same time as the attack on Engels, explosions were heard in Saratov. According to local residents, after the explosions, a fire broke out in the area of the local refinery.
The governor of the Saratov region, Roman Busargin, claims that all the drones were allegedly shot down. However, he added that "there is damage at an industrial enterprise in Saratov."
Photos and videos on social media show a large fire at the oil refinery.
Additionally, the airports in Kazan, Kirov, Saratov, and Ulyanovsk have temporarily suspended flight operations, both arrivals and departures, due to the risk of drone attacks.
So far, there has been no official data on the consequences of the attack in either of the two cases.
For reference:
On the night of January 14, unidentified strike UAVs targeted several regions in the Russian Federation. This resulted in a major fire at an industrial enterprise in the city of Engels, Saratov region. Residents of Kazan, in the Republic of Tatarstan, also reported a UAV attack, with the fire affecting the Orgsintez plant.
Later, it was reported that the Ukrainian Defense Forces again struck the infrastructure of the Russian military airfield Engels-2 on the night of January 14. Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft of the 22nd Heavy Bomber Air Division of the Russian Federation are based there.
On the night of January 8, unidentified drones attacked the city of Engels, targeting an oil storage facility and striking the Kristall plant associated with Rosrezerv. Subsequent photos revealed the aftermath of the drone attack, showing a fire at the oil storage facility located at the airbase. Eyewitnesses reported that the storage facility continues to burn.
On the fifth day after the drone strike, the Saratov regional authorities announced a "controlled burnout" of the fuel. Two employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations died as a result of extinguishing the fire, and another was taken to the hospital.
