Engels Air Base is located deep in Russia, 500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
In Russia, explosions have been heard at the Engels Air Base in the Saratov region, Ukrainian and Russian news media say.
Governor of the Saratov region Roman Busargin says on the Telegram channel that information about the alleged explosion is currently being verified. According to him, the civil infrastructure of the area has not been damaged. Busargin added that the residents of the area are not in danger.
The Ukrainian RBC Ukraine news agency reports that there were two explosions at the air base. The Russian Baza news media, on the other hand, reports that local residents reported that air raid sirens sounded in the area. Residents said they heard one explosion.
At the beginning of December, at the same airbase, two Tupolev Tu-95 long-range strategic bombers were damaged after a drone hit the runway.
At no point did Ukraine announce that it was behind the attack. In any case, the drone reaching the air base was extremely embarrassing for Russia and raised the question of how the Russian air defense was unable to protect the target.
Engels Air Base is located 500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and serves as a central base for Russian nuclear-equipped Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers.
Source: Reuters
The news is updated.