Belgorod region
Residents of the Belgorod region were the first to report on the work of air defense on Thursday – around 9.30 Moscow time, photos and videos began to appear on local residents and Telegram channels.
The images show the rocket hitting an unknown object in the sky. After that, burning pieces fall to the ground, leaving a smoky trail. Head of the region Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed the work of air defense in the Belgorod region. According to him, one of the tracks fell at the junction of the busy Komsomolsky-Maisky highway. Because of this, the dry grass caught fire, but was soon extinguished.
“No loss of life. “Operational services are clarifying information about results in the field.”
Bryansk region
At around 10:30 Moscow time, reports of missiles and drones began to appear in the sky over the Bryansk region. Regional President Aleksandr Bogomaz confirmed that the air defense systems are working.
“Our air defense system operates on the territory of the Klintsovsky district. No damage or casualties. As a result of the studies, UAVs were shot down,” said Bogomaz, and did not specify exactly how many UAVs were shot down.
According to Mash, Russian S-300 air defense systems in the sky over the Bryansk region intercepted missiles from the American HIMARS multiple launch rocket system supplied to Kiev by Western countries. The publication reported that one person was still injured as a result of falling debris.
Saratov region
Around 11:20 am Moscow time, residents of the Saratov region began posting videos and photos on social networks and Telegram channels, showing smoke trails of rockets going into the sky. According to eyewitnesses, the air defense was working in the field of military airspace.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a sound similar to an airplane flying in the Engels area, followed by an explosion. Then a weather alert was issued in the city.
Governor Roman Busargin said that an air defense system exploded on the territory of the Engels region, as a result of which an unidentified object was destroyed.
He added that the operation teams were working at the scene and that there was no situation threatening the life safety of the people living in the vicinity. Busargin also reminded that evacuation from the city is not necessary.
Citing local residents later, SHOT reported that the debris from the falling object fell on a residential building and a car in the Engels area.
In the satellite city of Saratov, Engels, located on the opposite bank of the Volga, there is a military airfield “Engels-2”, where the long-range aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces is based. The airbase is used, among other things, for attacks on targets in Ukraine.
The airbase was attacked twice in the last month. According to the Ministry of Defense, on December 5, Ukrainian troops tried to damage the airspace using a Soviet-made jet plane. Then he was shot, two people were injured. The second attempt of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to attack Engels-2 took place on the night of December 26. The Russian Ministry of Defense also reported that air defense forces shot down the drones, but three people were killed.