The Ukrainian military reported that its forces targeted a Russian oil depot situated hundreds of kilometers from the shared border of the warring nations, which is utilized by Russia’s air force.
“Ukrainian defense forces struck the Russian oil depot in Engels,” the Ukrainian general staff stated on social media, adding that, “this oil depot supplied fuel to the Engels-2 military airfield, which accommodates enemy strategic aviation.”
This region is home to a significant air base for strategic bombers that are part of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.
Ukraine has previously attacked the base using drones, but it remains unclear if it was targeted during this particular incident.
Reports from Russian news sources indicated that a fire occurred at an oil facility.
Regional governor Roman Busargin mentioned that the cities of Saratov and Engels, located on opposite banks of the Volga River, experienced a “mass drone attack” and confirmed a fire at an industrial site, although no casualties have been reported.
“There are adequate forces and resources available to contain the fire,” he shared on Telegram.
Russia’s defense ministry released a statement claiming that 11 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight in the Saratov region, with an additional 21 neutralized in other areas of Russia and the Azov Sea. The statement did not provide details on any damage incurred.
The Engels air base lies approximately 730 km southeast of Moscow and several hundred kilometers away from the Ukrainian border.
In December 2022, a drone shoot-down incident at the base resulted in the deaths of three Russian air force personnel.
The independent news outlet Astra reported that the oil depot experiencing the fire was responsible for fueling the air base.
