--- title: "Russian Bomber Base Suffered Major Damage To Munitions Area In Ukrainian Drone Attack" date: "2025-03-21" modified: "2025-03-21" authors: - name: "Howard Altman" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/howard-altman.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/news-features/russian-bomber-base-suffered-major-damage-to-munitions-area-in-ukrainian-drone-attack" categories: - "Air" - "Air Forces" - "Around The Globe" - "Bombers" - "Bunkers & Installations" - "Drones" - "Europe" - "News & Features" - "Russia" - "Russian Air Force" tags: - "armed drones" - "russia" - "Ukraine" --- # Russian Bomber Base Suffered Major Damage To Munitions Area In Ukrainian Drone Attack ![Ammo dump destroyed in Russia at Engles Air Base.]() *MAXAR* Satellite imagery obtained by *The War Zone* confirms that ammunition and weapons storage bunkers at [Russia’s Engels Air Base]() were destroyed in a Ukrainian drone attack on Thursday. The attack resulted in a massive fireball and mushroom cloud. You can read our initial story about it [here](). A high-resolution image, taken today by Maxar Technologies, shows most of the damage occurred at storage areas about a mile east of the runway. At least a dozen storage facilities and other nearby buildings were destroyed in the attack. It also created several large craters. The severe damage was caused by massive secondary explosions when the drones detonated explosive ordnance stored there. Targeting munitions storage areas for their secondary effects is a common tactic used by both sides when employing standoff weaponry. ![]() *A close-up view of the damage caused by a Ukrainian drone attack. Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies* You can see the same area in an image taken before the attack below. ![]() *The same area, as seen before the attack. Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies Wood, Stephen* There were claims on Russian Telegram channels that a [Tu-95MS Bear-H]() bomber may have been damaged by shrapnel, but there is no indication in the satellite images of major damage to aviation assets at the base. Still, shrapnel damage without secondary effects would not show up in this resolution of imagery, so it is possible. ![]() *A close-up view of the runway shows no damage to any aircraft. Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies* The full image taken by Maxar shows the distance from the area that was attacked and the main apron. ![]() *Overview of Engels Air Base after the attack. Satellite image ©2025 Maxar Technologies* According to[ Ukrainian accounts](), there were three[ Tu-95MS Bear-H]() and two[ Tu-160 Blackjack]() strategic bombers at Engels when the drones struck. An[ Il-76 Candid]() airlifter had also recently arrived. At least two pilots of a Bear bomber were killed in the attack, [according to Russian Telegram channels](). There was no indication whether they were in the bomber at the time. *The War Zone* cannot independently confirm that claim. https://twitter.com/TheDeadDistrict/status/1902893322923876520 “A warehouse of aviation ammunition at a military airfield was hit, and a fire started at the facility,” [the *Astra* news outlet reported on Friday](). “Several hours later, ammunition began to detonate there - at least three explosions occurred.” Video and images emerging on social media after the attack showed a massive explosion and a dark cloud rising over the city. https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:3xomcphegzclnbkat3ylyrrn/post/3lkrzzoe56k23?ref_src=embed&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.twz.com%252Fair%252Fmassive-explosion-rocks-key-bomber-base-deep-inside-russia https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:lfxlhdtxkyczcuroq4q2umqy/post/3lkrtak2bsc2n https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:v7762wvbhnna4t4gptkbjogc/post/3lks5u6sq2k2p There was also video showing the tremendous shockwave that damaged nearby buildings. There is a village located about a tenth of a mile east of the damaged ammunition bunkers, which is likely where the video below was filmed. https://twitter.com/TheDeadDistrict/status/1902604866746286293 At least three servicemen were injured in the attack, *Astra* stated. At least five civilians were injured by the resulting fire. In addition, the windows in the Engels City Clinical Hospital No. 1 were blown out by falling debris. “A total of 120 people were evacuated from the danger zone,” *Astra* explained. At least “180 private houses were damaged during the attack. The authorities introduced a state of emergency at the municipal level.” The attack involved more than 50 drones, according to *Astra*. The strikes were carried out by Ukrainian-made long-range one-way attack drones, with at least one video seemingly indicating the use of the twin-boom[ Lyutyy]() or the visually similar PD-2. Both these types have been[ used to attack targets]() deep inside Russia on multiple occasions. https://twitter.com/TWMCLtd/status/1902648002331775105 The base, 300 miles from the Ukrainian border, is home to the 22nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division, which operates one squadron of [Tu-95MS Bear-H]() bombers, another squadron of supersonic [Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bombers ]()and is the primary base for the [Tu-160]() Blackjack bombers. The latter aircraft [have been widely employed]() in the conflict in Ukraine and especially in the standoff strikes that have targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, among other objectives, civilian and military, across the country. ![]() *Engels Air Base is located about 300 miles from Ukraine. (Google Earth) A map showing the general location of Engels Air Base in western Russia. *Google Maps** Engels has been a frequent target for Ukraine. It[ was attacked three times]() in the month of December 2022 alone. On at least one of those occasions, the Russian Ministry of Defense said the air base was attacked by[ Soviet-made jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles]() modified by Ukraine to carry explosives. Those attacks — which also targeted Dyagilevo Air Base — resulted in damage to at least one[ Tu-22M3 Backfire-C]() bomber and apparently also to a Tu-95MS. More recently, in January of this year,[ we reported]() on a huge fire close to Engels Air Base, caused by what Russian officials described as a “[massive” Ukrainian drone attack](). The strike was on the strategically important fuel storage tank farm for Engels and the fire raged for several days after, as seen in the image in the embedded tweet below: https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1877024153099723240 The latest attack came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to a[ tentative agreement in principle]() with Russia calling for a mutual pause on power infrastructure attacks. However, there was no timetable for implementation and both sides continue to launch strikes against each other. *Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com* ## Author Howard is a Senior Staff Writer for *TWZ*. He writes frequently about conflict, focusing heavily on the Middle East and Ukraine, and interviews with military and intelligence officials and industry leaders from around the globe. He lives near Tampa, Florida, home of U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [LinkedIn]()