Alarms echoed through Moscow and nearby regions on a Monday night as reports emerged from the Saratov and Ryazan areas. Explosions tore into military infrastructure and equipment, leaving a grim tally of three dead and six wounded. The sites of impact are separated by hundreds of kilometers from the border with Ukraine, with Engels air base in Saratov region and Dyagilevo airbase in Ryazan region among the locations affected. Local media suggested a drone strike, and hours later the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that drones had struck Russian soil. In its release, officials stated that the Kyiv regime attacked the Dyagilevo airbase in Ryazan and the Engels airbase in Saratov with Soviet-made drones.
The Saratov regional governor, Roman Busargin, posted on his Telegram channel that there was no emergency in residential areas and no damage to civilian infrastructure. Law enforcement likewise confirmed that the incidents involved military facilities. Residents who spoke on social media described hearing a loud bang and seeing a bright flash at Engels as the drones reportedly struck, with debris reportedly landing near military installations.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked for details. He told reporters he did not have specific information beyond what had been reported in the news. The strikes targeted two strategic bombers, TU-95 aircraft capable of carrying nuclear payloads and playing a pivotal role in Russia’s operation against Ukraine, including efforts around Kyiv.
Uplifted by the news, Ukrainian adviser Mikhailo Podolyak hinted on Twitter that these attacks might be connected to Ukrainian actions. Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, Ukroboronprom, had just announced that its kamikaze drones were nearing the end of testing, with a range of up to 750 kilometers and payloads up to 75 kilograms. Kyiv has not officially claimed responsibility for the drone strikes on Russian air bases.
The world keeps turning, as one observer once noted, and astronomical history sometimes mirrors modern events. If a nation launches an object into another country’s airspace, the repercussions tend to circle back in time. This sentiment was echoed in social media chatter and commentary that followed the incidents.
Explosions were reported at other air bases near Russia’s borders, including Belgorod, a region recognized by the international community for its proximity to contested zones. Unrest has occasionally reached disputed areas such as Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. One notable target has been the Crimean bridge, a symbol of national pride that connects Crimea to mainland Russia. The bridge recently saw civilian traffic resume after reopening.
President Vladimir Putin visited the area on Monday, with official media filming him driving a Mercedes across the bridge during its reopening to civilian transit. He had previously described the ongoing Russian strikes as