Russia expands Engels-2 air base — strategic aviation hub for strikes on Ukraine
According to Ukrinform, the 8th Separate Battalion Arrata of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine reported this on Telegram.
“In the northern part of the base, concrete is being poured and preparations are underway for 12 new hardstands for Tu-95MS, Tu-160, Su-34, and Su-35 aircraft,” the statement reads.
It is from Engels-2 that the Russian Federation conducts mass attacks on Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian drones have previously struck the facility, destroying dozens of cruise missiles and fuel depots — explosions were reportedly heard as far away as Saratov.
“Active construction indicates that Russia is preparing for new strikes. Ukraine needs to scale up its own deep-strike capabilities — drones, long-range missiles, and precision weapons to preemptively strike such bases,” the 8th Separate Battalion Arrata emphasised.
As Ukrinform reported, experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believe that the range and significant payload of American Tomahawk missiles would enable Ukrainian forces to inflict substantial damage on key Russian military facilities deep inside the aggressor country, including a Shahed-type drone production plant in Yelabuga, Republic of Tatarstan, and the Engels air base in the Saratov region.
Illustrative photo: Maxar Technologies / European Space Imaging
