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Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Massive Explosion Rocks Key Bomber Base Deep Inside Russia
A Ukrainian drone attack targeted Russia's Engels Air Base in the Saratov region, 300 miles from the Ukrainian border, according to Russian and Ukrainian officials. These claims are supported by an abundance of dramatic imagery footage. At this stage, it's unclear whether any Russian aircraft were damaged in the incident, although there are strong indications that the primary target may have been a weapons storage area at the base. Long-range bombers flying from the base regularly attack Ukraine and the airfield, and others like it, have long been high-priority targets for Kyiv. Videos and photos posted to social media showed the attack and its aftermath, which occurred early this morning, local time. Some of these videos have since been independently verified. The strikes involved Ukrainian-made long-range one-way attack drones, with at least one video seemingly indicating the use of the twin-boom Lyutyy or the visually similar PD-2. Both these types have been used to attack targets deep inside Russia on multiple occasions. "Lutyi" strike drones visited Engels this morning. — MAKS 24 (@ 2025-03-20T09:16:58.500Z The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense confirmed that its forces had struck the airfield and the attacks triggered secondary detonations of ammunition. At least one video captured the moment that the shockwave from a massive explosion at Engels passed through the surrounding area. Such was the ferocity of the blast that areas outside of the base — including a settlement of dacha cottages — were severely damaged, with some structures being obliterated. Near the Engels air base. — 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝕯𝔢𝔞𝔡 𝕯𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔱△ (@TheDeadDistrict) March 20, 2025 Fantastic detonation in Engels — The Ukrainian Review (@ 2025-03-20T08:12:36.264Z Roman Busargin, the governor of the Saratov region, confirmed there had been a Ukrainian drone attack that had left an unnamed airfield on fire, and that nearby residents had been evacuated. Other local officials said that 10 people had been injured in the attack and Engels district head Maxim Leonov confirmed that a local state of emergency had been declared. The size of the blast, the subsequent intense fire, and the huge pall of smoke rising over the air base are certainly in line with the theory that a weapons storage area was struck. If that were the case, this could have eliminated a lot of weaponry, specifically the air-launched cruise missiles with which Russian bombers are mainly armed. Russia: Ukraine struck the Engels Military Air Base in Saratov region. — Igor Sushko (@ 2025-03-20T04:09:14.037Z Russia's Engels-2 airbase, having a rough morning. — Jay in Kyiv (@ 2025-03-20T06:10:39.866Z More from Engels — MAKS 24 (@ 2025-03-20T07:55:06.667Z /1. Tonight drones targeted Russian military airfield in Engels, Saratov region of Russia. A strong explosion was reported. — Special Kherson Cat (@ 2025-03-20T07:19:10.749Z Russian Engels is again attacked by unknown drones. What is going on?! — Meanwhile in Ukraine (@ 2025-03-20T04:29:34.436Z Russian Telegram channels report an ammunition warehouse might have been hit near Engels military airfield. Some say missiles might have been stored there. — Anton Gerashchenko (@ 2025-03-20T07:24:36.924Z In addition, there are reports that secondary explosions continued throughout the morning, which would correspond with ammunition cooking off after the initial blast(s). Targeting munitions areas for their secondary effects as well as what they contain is a major tactic used by both sides in this war. The scale of the destruction outside of the air base also suggests that there might be more extensive damage within the facility's perimeters. So far, TWZ has not been able to obtain relevant satellite imagery that isn't obscured by cloud cover. According to unconfirmed Ukrainian accounts, there were three Tu-95MS Bear-H and two Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers at Engels this morning. There were further reports that an Il-76 Candid airlifter had also recently arrived, perhaps carrying additional munitions for the resident bombers, though this cannot be verified. After doing a detailed geolocation of Ukraine's strike on Engels air base, using the position of several buildings and the position of the sun at the time of the strikeThe target was located as an ammunition bunker at Engels Air Base, likely storing many missiles and bombs — Ukraine Battle Map (@ukraine_map) March 20, 2025 Regardless of what Russian aircraft were at the base this morning, the attack further underscores the ability of relatively slow and low-flying Ukrainian drones to fly deep into Russian territory and strike strategic military targets. Once again, this raises questions about local air defense capabilities, although Russian authorities typically claim that they successfully intercept almost all Ukrainian drones sent their way. On this occasion, Russian officials said that their air defenses had shot down 54 Ukrainian drones in the Saratov region overnight — from a total of 132 Ukrainian drones allegedly brought down across all Russian regions. Low and slow-flying drones, especially those made of composite materials, are hard to detect, track, and engage, but Russia has been facing attacks of this kind for many months now. In the past, Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian bomber bases have resulted in damage to aircraft. For example, Engels was attacked three times in the month of December 2022 alone. On at least one of those occasions, the Russian Ministry of Defense said the air base was attacked by Soviet-made jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles modified by Ukraine to carry explosives. Those attacks — which also targeted Dyagilevo Air Base — resulted in damage to at least one Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bomber and apparently also to a Tu-95MS. More recently, in January of this year, we reported on a huge fire close to Engels Air Base, caused by what Russian officials described as a 'massive' Ukrainian drone attack. The strike was on the strategically important fuel storage tank farm for Engels and the fire raged for several days after, as seen in the image in the embedded tweet below: Russia's Rosreserv fuel depot in Engels continued to burn today after a Ukrainian drone attack last night, with multiple additional storage tanks igniting throughout the day. Within the last hour, the regional governor of Saratov declared a state of emergency. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) January 8, 2025 Engels is home to the 22nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division, which operates one squadron of Bear-Hs and another squadron of supersonic Blackjacks — this is the only permanent base for the Tu-160. Both types have been widely employed in the conflict in Ukraine and especially in the standoff strikes that have targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure, among other objectives, civilian and military, across the country. Meanwhile, repeated Ukrainian attacks have led to Russian air bases dispersing their aircraft for protection. The Russian Aerospace Forces have also taken further precautions at their bases. Initially, they installed blast walls between active aircraft. This was an attempt to contain any damage to one aircraft in an attack, designed to prevent both fire and shrapnel from spreading. More recently, construction work at multiple bases has been adding many dozens of new hardened aircraft shelters to better shield aircraft from drone attacks and other indirect fire. However, the size of the bombers means they cannot be provided with the same kinds of protection. As well as the physical hardening of airfields, Russia has arranged discarded aircraft as decoys. More unorthodox measures have included placing car tires on the upper surfaces of aircraft and painting aircraft silhouettes on concrete airfield surfaces. The tires, specifically, were intended to confuse image-matching seekers on Ukrainian-operated standoff weapons. At the same time, anti-aircraft defenses have been set up at Russian airfields, although, as demonstrated today, their effectiveness has been mixed. The latest attack on Engels Air Base comes as Ukraine and Russia trade strikes against the backdrop of the Trump administration's efforts to work out the details of a partial ceasefire. Hours before the drone strike, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine spoke to his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, and accepted the Kremlin's offer to mutually pause attacks on energy targets for 30 days. As for the effectiveness of today's Ukrainian drone attack on Engels Air Base, we will have to wait for satellite imagery to have a better idea of this. At the very least, however, the operation is a reminder of Ukraine's ability to target facilities of this kind as part of its long-range drone strategy. Among these targets, Engels, as Russia's master bomber base, remains a prized objective for Ukraine. Contact the author: thomas@
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russian Raiders Crawled For Miles Through Gas Pipeline To Attack Ukrainians In Kursk
Details have emerged of an extraordinary mission launched by Russian soldiers in the Kursk region, during which they penetrated deep into Ukrainian-held territory via a gas pipeline. The soldiers — reportedly around 100 in total — were apparently tasked with an assault on Sudzha, a critical Ukrainian-held town in the region. Although the results of the raid are unclear at this stage, it further underscores the huge challenge that Ukraine faces if it's to retain a foothold in this area of western Russia. Kursk region, video from the gas pipeline that goes to Sudzha — MAKS 24 (@ 2025-03-08T22:57:15.221Z New videos and photos from the gas pipeline in the Kursk Region! — MAKS 24 (@ 2025-03-08T20:37:52.954Z A detailed description of the Russian mission, which took place on March 8, was provided in the Ukrainian media by journalist Yurii Butusov, whose original source was a member of a Ukrainian unit operating in the Kursk region. Kursk region. An alleged photo of the gas pipeline through which the Russians wanted to infiltrate Sudzha unnoticed. — MAKS 24 (@ 2025-03-08T18:50:53.983Z Multiple photos and videos purportedly documenting the operation have also been published by Russian military social media accounts, including showing soldiers wearing breathing gear and moving down the pipeline that is only around 4.5 feet wide. Reportedly, the raiders spent four days crawling through the pipeline, which is roughly nine miles long. Unconfirmed reports suggest that some of the soldiers may have suffocated while in the pipeline. However, at least some made it out. According to Butusov's source: 'The enemy used a gas pipeline and came out in area N [the precise location is concealed for security purposes]… It was not a surprise, as we knew about this action. But the focus had been shifted to Kurilovka [a village south of Sudzha] a few days ago.' Another account suggests that the Russians did achieve some element of surprise, with the use of the pipeline ensuring that these forces could be moved without being detected by Ukrainian surveillance drones. The same source notes that Russian preparations for the mission included airstrikes in the vicinity of the area, something that took place over several days. It's reported that the Russian army has intensified attacks in Kursk region of to unverified information,Russians have gotten to Ukrainian positions in Sudzha through the Druzhba gas pipeline this pipeline is under increased observation — Anton Gerashchenko (@ 2025-03-08T16:21:53.198Z The exact pipeline used by the Russian soldiers is not entirely clear, although all signs point to it being part of the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhhorod gas pipeline. Also known as the Brotherhood pipeline, or West-Siberian Pipeline, this was previously used to transport Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine. Partially owned and operated by Ukraine, it has been out of use since the end of 2024. Regardless, some of the Russian soldiers emerged from the pipeline before attempting to reach Ukrainian positions near Sudzha, a small town around 65 miles southwest of the city of Kursk. Sudzha has been occupied by Ukrainian forces since mid-August 2024 after they launched an incursion into the region. About 100 Russians use gas pipeline to reach Ukrainian positions near Sudzha, Kursk Oblast — Ukrainska Pravda (@ 2025-03-08T11:36:34.848Z What happened to the Russian soldiers after they arrived in Sudzha is also unclear at this stage. One report suggests that 'efforts are underway to eliminate the infiltrators,' while surveillance of the pipeline has now been stepped up to avoid a repeat of the raid. The Ukrainian General Staff released footage purportedly showing Ukrainian troops engaging some of the Russian assault troops after they emerged from the tunnel, shown below: Destruction of Russian soldiers who came out of a gas pipeline in the Kursk region! — MAKS 24 (@ 2025-03-08T19:47:10.620Z It's certainly possible that at least some elements of the Russian assault company linked up with other troops already on the ground in the Sudzha area. After all, Russian forces achieved a breakthrough of the Ukrainian defensive line south of the town in recent days. The area is now a focus of fighting, as the Ukrainian Armed Forces try and hold the Russians back to avoid an encirclement and the cutting off of vital supply routes. 'Russian special forces are being detected, blocked, and destroyed. Enemy losses in the Sudzha area are very heavy,' Ukraine's military claimed. The current situation has been developing for some time now, with the Russians increasing their focus on Sudzha. Even before the end of last year, Russian troops had entered the village of Kurilovka, south of Sudzha, and forced a Ukrainian brigade to give up its positions. 'After that, the enemy built up its forces and systematically launched assault operations,' a Ukrainian military source told Ukrainska Pravda on March 7. 'Yesterday and the day before [6 and 5 March], they made a breakthrough.' In particular, it seems Russian forces are aiming to take control of the road running between Sumy, Yunakivka, and Sudzha, which provides Ukrainians with a critical access route into the Kursk region. A string of other villages to the north of Sudzha have already been recaptured, including Staraya, Novaya Sorochina, and Malaya Loknya, as well as other small settlements to the immediate east of the town. Overall, the situation for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region is becoming increasingly precarious. Ukrainian reports state that the Russians are 'carrying out massive attacks along the entire front of the Kursk sanitary zone … and are assaulting relentlessly.' As well as having significantly more firepower — especially artillery — the Russians are backed up by North Korean troops, bolstering what is already a significant numerical advantage. Russia's ex-president, Dmitry Medvedev, recently claimed that Ukrainian forces in Kursk were almost surrounded and would soon be driven out. 'The lid of the smoking cauldron is almost closed. The offensive continues,' he posted on Telegram. Holding territory in Kursk over the long term was always going to be a huge challenge for Ukraine. Even with adequate supplies of ammunition, the flanks of the so-called 'sanitary zone' are being repeatedly attacked by Russian ground forces and airpower. Meanwhile, the front of the zone has narrowed, making it more difficult to hold. At the same time, the United States has now hit pause on military support for Ukraine, as well as access to intelligence and satellite feeds. There are now increasing calls from Ukrainian analysts to withdraw entirely from Kursk, with the tables now apparently firmly tilted in the Russians' favor. On the other hand, the political importance of Ukraine having a foothold in Russia shouldn't be discounted. Indeed, with critical talks between Ukraine and the United States due to be held in Saudi Arabia this week, holding onto what is a key bargaining chip is perhaps now more important than ever for Kyiv. It's expected that the talks will see Ukraine propose a peace plan that will include an end to aerial drone and missile strikes, together with a suspension of military activity in the Black Sea. The pipeline raid highlights the importance to Russia of recapturing this territory. Less clear is how long Ukraine can hold out as losses mount and the tide of public opinion threatens to turn against what was, at the start, a notably bold operation but one that now is becoming increasingly perilous for the forces that Kyiv has committed there. Contact the author: thomas@
