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Ukraine attacked airfield near Engels strategic bomber base, Russian officials say
Ukraine attacked airfield near Engels strategic bomber base, Russian officials say
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Ukraine attacked airfield near Engels strategic bomber base, Russian officials say
by DZRH News20 March 2025
Governor of Saratov Region Roman Busargin visits a damaged building of a local hospital, following what local authorities called a Ukrainian drone attack, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in the town of Engels in the Saratov region, Russia, in this picture published March 20, 2025. Governor of Saratov Region Roman Busargin via Telegram/Handout via REUTERS

By Reuters

MOSCOW, March 20 (Reuters) - An airfield near a Russian strategic bomber base was on fire on Thursday after a major Ukrainian drone attack in southern Russia, according to Russian officials and state media.

The base in Engels, about 700 km (435 miles) from the front lines in Ukraine, hosts Russia's Tupolev Tu-160 nuclear-capable heavy strategic bombers.

Roman Busargin, the governor of Saratov, said there had been a Ukrainian drone attack on the town of Engels that had left an airfield on fire and that nearby residents had been evacuated.

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He did not specifically mention the Engels base, but it is the main airfield in the area.

Unverified footage on Russian Telegram channels showed a plume of black smoke rising above cottages and what appears to be a major fire rising into the dawn sky.

Russia's defence ministry said air defences had shot down 132 Ukrainian drones over six different regions in southern Russia, including 54 in the Saratov region where the Engels base is located.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Tom Hogue)

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