A large-scale fire erupted at an oil storage facility near a strategic Russian military airbase following what officials described as a "massive" Ukrainian drone attack in Russia's Saratov region early Wednesday.
Roman Busargin, governor of the Saratov region, confirmed that both the city of Saratov and the Engels airbase, located approximately eight miles away, were targeted in the overnight assault. The Engels facility houses Russia's nuclear-capable long-range bomber aircraft.
According to Russian media reports, the blaze broke out at an oil depot that supplies fuel to the Engels airbase. Video footage shared on social media platforms showed intense flames engulfing what appeared to be a major oil storage complex.
Russia's Defense Ministry stated it intercepted 32 Ukrainian drones during the night, with 11 of them targeting the Saratov region. However, the ministry's statement did not acknowledge any damage from the attack.
Ukrainian media outlets reported that the affected oil facility belongs to Russia's federal reserves agency, which maintains fuel supplies for military operations at the Engels airbase.
The attack represents one of Ukraine's deepest strikes into Russian territory, targeting key military infrastructure deep into Russian territory roughly 500 miles from the Ukrainian border. While Ukraine rarely claims responsibility for attacks on Russian soil, the incident demonstrates its growing capability to conduct long-range drone operations against strategic Russian assets.
The Engels airbase has been a critical facility for Russian military operations, serving as a base for nuclear-capable strategic bombers that have been used during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.