🔥 Trending Ukraine Claims Destruction of Russian Bomber at Engels Air Base

The Engels-2 air base in Russia's Saratov Oblast has recently been the target of Ukrainian drone attacks, with reports indicating a significant incident involving a bomber ¹²⁴.

Drone Attacks and Reported Damage

On July 16, 2026, Ukrainian drones reportedly targeted the Engels-2 strategic bomber base ¹². Russian Telegram media channels reported these strikes ². Footage confirmed a fire at the base, though the full extent of the damage remained unclear ¹. BattlePolicy.com reported that Ukrainian drones struck Engels-2, which is the home base for Russia's Tu-95 and Tu-160 fleets, located approximately 600 km behind the front lines ⁴.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) later reported the destruction of a Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber at Engels Air Base using long-range unmanned aerial systems ³. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on July 17, 2026, that the SBU had destroyed a Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber in Engels, releasing video of the attack ⁶. These bombers are actively used in the war against Ukraine and are armed with long-range cruise missiles such as the Kh-101 and Kh-55/Kh-555 ⁵.

Accidental Bomb Drop Incident

In a separate incident on October 12, 2025, a Russian bomber accidentally released a 500-kilogram FAB-500 high-explosive bomb over the city of Engels shortly after taking off from the Engels-2 Air Base ⁷. The bomb did not detonate, and Russia's Emergency Ministry reported no injuries or damage ⁷. This incident, which involved a bomb loaded with 0.2 tons of TNT equivalent explosives, occurred near an airfield where nuclear bomber strike aircraft are based ⁸.