A farewell ceremony took place in the Saratov region for three Russian service members who lost their lives in Ukraine during an attack that struck Engels airport. The details were provided by the press office of the Intercession Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.
As reported by the church’s press service, the funeral was held at the church named after Prophet Elijah in Engels. Earlier, a civil memorial service was observed at the Eternal Flame monument.
Officials noted the attendance of regional leaders, including the governor of the Saratov region, Roman Busargin, and the Engels district mayor, Dmitry Petrovich Plekhanov, along with military officers, family members, colleagues, and friends of the deceased.
In a remark attributed to Bishop Pachomius, it was said that after paying their debts to the Fatherland, the fallen soldiers have joined the ranks of heavenly guardians, with prayer books and defenders now present before God.
Following speeches by the district head and the bishop, a moment of silence was observed, after which military guards fired three volleys with empty cartridges to honor the dead.
On December 26, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that air defense systems had repelled a Ukrainian drone aimed at Engels airport, and that three personnel from the airport’s technical unit were killed when the wreckage fell to the ground.