94Ha Viewpoint
Ukrainian military drones attacked a Russian strategic bomber base, causing a huge explosion and a mushroom cloud over the base.
According to reports from multiple media outlets including Reuters and the Ukrainian Independent, a source revealed that the Ukrainian military used drones to attack Engels Air Force Base, one of Russia’s most important strategic bomber bases, in the early hours of the 20th, causing a huge explosion and fire, and a mushroom cloud over the base.
The Independent said that a source from the Ukrainian National Security Service confirmed the attack to the media. The source said that after the Ukrainian National Security Service and special forces launched an operation, a fire, explosion and secondary explosion of ammunition occurred at the Engels Air Force Base. In addition, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces also reported the attack. The department said in a statement that the Russian Air Force used this military facility to launch a missile attack on Ukrainian territory.
Reuters and the Daily Telegraph cited a video posted on the social media “Telegram” saying that after the attack, a huge mushroom cloud rose over the city of Engels in Saratov Oblast, Russia.
As of press time, no official Russian response has been seen to the claim that “the Ukrainian army’s attack on the Engels Air Force Base caused a huge explosion.” The Russian Ministry of Defense’s official website issued a notice on the 20th that Russia shot down 54 Ukrainian drones in Saratov Oblast.
It is understood that the Engels Air Force Base is one of Russia’s most important strategic bomber bases, deploying Tu-160 strategic bombers and Tu-95 strategic bomber fleets, and is an important force for the Russian army to carry out air strikes on key facilities in Ukraine. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces previously stated that the Ukrainian army attacked the oil storage facilities of the Russian Engels Air Force Base in the early morning of January 8, and “several explosions occurred in the target area and a fire broke out.” The attacked oil depot provides fuel for Russian strategic bombers.
