Flames rose from Russia's Engels-2 military airfield in Saratov Oblast overnight on July 25, according to photos and videos shared by local residents.
Eyewitnesses reported a large fire at the air base and published footage of smoke and flames at the site, which is home to Russia's strategic aircraft, including the Tu-95 long-range bomber.
An open-source analysis by the independent Russian news channel Astra determined that the fire was close to the Engels-2 air base.
Located in the Saratov Oblast, nearly 600 kilometers (370 miles) from Ukraine's front line, Engels air base – also known as Engels-2 – houses the 184th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment and 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment.
Russia keeps a fleet of strategic military aircraft at the base, including the Tu-95, the Tu-22, and the Tu-160 heavy bombers.
The latest reported fire comes just over a week after the Ukrainian military on July 17 said it destroyed a Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber in a drone attack on Engels airfield.
Engels has been targeted by Ukrainian drone strikes numerous times since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. »