Drones hit strategic aviation fuel storage facility in Engels

8 January, 2025 The moment of the explosion at the Russian strategic aviation oil storage facility in Engels. January 8, 2025. Photo: Monitor

Strike drones hit an oil storage facility in Engels, where jet fuel for Russian strategic aviation was stored. Astra reported on this. The first explosions in Engels were recorded around 3 a.m., when a large explosion occurred at the oil depot of the Rosreserve's Kristall plant, followed by a fire.

According to open source information, this federal state-owned institution is responsible for storing fuel for the Engels-2 airbase. Roman Busargin, governor of Saratov region, confirmed the fire.

In his Telegram channel, he claimed that the fire occurred at one of the city's industrial facilities due to the fall of the wreckage of a downed drone. "Saratov and Engels were subjected to a massive drone attack last night. One of the industrial enterprises was damaged.

According to preliminary information, no one was injured," the governor wrote. The Kristall plant's oil storage facility is located at coordinates 51.436845296772695, 46.09027556317289, approximately 8 kilometers from the Engels-2 strategic aviation airbase.

The storage facility has 46 tanks for storing petroleum products, including jet fuel used for Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers.

Oil storage facility and distance to Engels-2 airbase. Photo: Google Maps

The airfield is home to aviation from the 22nd Heavy Bomber Division, specifically the 121st Bombardment Regiment, equipped with Tu-160 aircraft, and the 184th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, which uses Tu-95 aircraft. It should be noted that this is not the first time drones have attacked Engels.

One of the first attacks on the airfield took place in December 2022. The flash and sound of an explosion were recorded by a CCTV camera when two explosions occurred in a row at 01:35 am Kyiv time. Later, the Russian media Baza reported that the fire covered an area of 120 square meters on the territory of the air base.

According to preliminary reports, three people were killed, and four others were hospitalized.

In addition, the last attack on the airfield was recorded in September 2024.

According to local residents, explosions were heard, after which a fire broke out on the airfield.