The Ukrainian armed forces recently announced a successful strike on a Russian oil depot, situated several hundred kilometers away from their shared border—a significant supply point for Russia’s air capabilities.
According to a statement posted on social media by Ukraine’s general staff, the attack targeted an oil depot in the Engels region of Saratov, noting that “this facility fueled the Engels-2 airfield, which houses enemy strategic aviation.” This airbase is crucial, serving as a hub for strategic bomber aircraft that play a pivotal role in Russia’s nuclear arsenal.
Ukraine has previously conducted drone strikes against this airbase, but details regarding whether this location was specifically targeted in the latest operation remain unclear.
Russian news agencies reported a significant fire at the oil facility, which sparked considerable attention.
Governor of the Saratov region, Roman Busargin, commented on the situation, stating that both Saratov and the neighboring city of Engels—divided by the Volga River—had experienced what he termed a “mass drone attack.” He reassured the public that a fire broke out at an industrial site, yet no casualties were reported.
“We have ample forces and resources to contain the fire,” he updated via Telegram, instilling some sense of calm amidst the chaos.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defence provided its own update, claiming that they had intercepted and destroyed a total of 11 Ukrainian drones overnight in the Saratov region, with another 21 reportedly neutralized across various areas of Russia and the Azov Sea. Interestingly, they chose not to discuss any damage incurred during these confrontations.
The Engels airbase is a substantial installation located approximately 730 kilometers southeast of Moscow, far from the Ukrainian border, yet its strategic importance cannot be overstated.
It’s worth noting that in December 2022, tensions escalated at this very site when a drone attack resulted in the deaths of three Russian air force personnel after a drone was shot down.
In an independent report, the news outlet Astra highlighted that the oil depot involved in the recent incident was indeed crucial for fueling operations at the airbase. This connection adds another layer of significance to the strike, emphasizing its impact on Russian military capabilities.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
