Smoke billows from Engels airbase following a Ukrainian assault.
SOCIAL MEDIA/SOCIAL MEDIA via REUTERS
Ukraine’s military reported that a recent strike on one of Russia’s critical military air bases resulted in the detonation of a stockpile containing 96 air-launched cruise missiles. According to Ukraine’s General Staff of the Armed Forces, the missiles were destroyed due to a secondary explosion on Thursday. It remains uncertain whether any aircraft were directly affected.
Images capturing a vast column of flames and smoke gained widespread attention last week after the Ukrainian attack targeted Russia’s Engels-2 military air base, located in the Saratov region. This base is noted for launching attacks on Ukraine using Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers. Ukraine indicated that the missiles were meant for three forthcoming operations while also stating that additional strikes destroyed significant fuel reserves designated for the aircraft. Business Insider was unable to verify the report independently.
Eliminating 96 cruise missiles would represent a remarkable success. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that the cost of Russia’s air-launched cruise missiles ranges from $500,000 to $1 million each, depending on the specific type.
Before-and-after satellite imagery of Engels-2 revealed large, charred craters and damaged bunkers as of March 21.
A detailed satellite view showing craters and destroyed bunkers following the attack at Engels on March 21.
Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies
The regional governor, Roman Busargin, described the strike as the most significant in the region to date. While Russian officials typically refrain from disclosing specifics about strikes, Busargin claimed that 54 Ukrainian drones were brought down during the incident. This March 20 strike occurred approximately 450 miles from unoccupied Ukrainian territory and is part of Kyiv’s ongoing effort to undermine Russian military and energy capabilities essential for the war effort.
This attack is the latest in a series targeting the base. Earlier in January, Ukraine announced it had executed its “largest ever” attack on Russian military installations, simultaneously striking an oil storage facility used for refueling planes at Engels-2. This marked the second assault on the base within a week. Recently, a drone attack reportedly set the Kavkazskaya oil pumping station in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai ablaze for over a week, rendering it inoperable for the foreseeable future.
While Ukraine contended that the strike on Engels-2 significantly diminished Russian firepower, military experts have cautioned that, despite sanctions, Russia faces few obstacles in replenishing its missile stockpile. Analyses indicate that Moscow has launched as many as 223 cruise missiles monthly against Ukrainian targets since late 2022.
