Key facts
- Russia's Engels-2 air base in Saratov Oblast was reportedly struck by Ukrainian drones on July 16.
- Local reports indicate explosions and a fire at the military installation.
- Drones were reportedly seen flying over the city of Engels, causing power outages.
- The base hosts strategic bombers such as the Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160.
- Engels air base has been a target multiple times since the invasion of Ukraine began.
Russia's Engels-2 air base in Saratov Oblast was reportedly hit by Ukrainian drones overnight on July 16, according to Russian Telegram media channels. Social media posts from local residents purport to show a fire at the military installation, which is home to strategic bombers regularly used for aerial strikes on Ukrainian cities.
Drones were reportedly seen flying over the city of Engels, with explosions and wider power outages also reported. Fires were also seen at homes within the city, allegedly caused by downed drones.
The Kyiv Independent stated it could not immediately verify the reports, and Ukraine's military had not yet commented on the alleged attack. The Engels air base, located nearly 600 kilometers from Ukraine's front line, houses the 184th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment and 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, operating aircraft such as the Tupolev Tu-95, Tupolev Tu-22, and Tupolev Tu-160.
This is not the first time Engels has been targeted. The base was reportedly damaged by a Ukrainian drone strike on December 5, 2022, and was most recently targeted in June 2025. The extent of damage from the latest reported attack remains unclear.
In other news, Russian Presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev stated that Russia's naval strategic nuclear forces maintain a state of full combat readiness. Explosions rocked Kyiv shortly before 1 a.m. local time, with the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration reporting ballistic missile attacks. Ukraine's National Bank has adopted new measures to prevent Russia from using modern financial instruments, such as cryptocurrency, to circumvent sanctions. Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk announced the president had formally submitted a nomination for Serhii Koretskyi to be the next prime minister of Ukraine. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has been offered the role of Ukraine's next defense minister. President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that election results would have no impact on escalation. The U.S. has begun granting Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles. The EU announced a 10-billion-euro funding plan for additional drones, missiles, and fighter aircraft for Ukraine, though Greece was reportedly refusing to compromise on proposals to stop EU countries trading LNG to third countries.