Ukraine's daring drone strike unveils Russian airbase vulnerabilities

The Ukrainian military reports that explosions began at approximately 9:00 PM Eastern Time. About 10 kilometres from the base, thick smoke was visible. This is where the Russian strategic bombers, used for missile attacks on Ukraine, are stationed. After the attack, residents of nearby buildings were evacuated.

The sounds of the explosions were also heard in Saratov, making this attack one of the largest since the onset of the war, notes the Ukrainian military-focused service. The Russian defence ministry claims it shot down 54 Ukrainian drones and a total of 132 drones attacked Russia and Crimea. It also notes that drone attacks have previously targeted the Engels 2 air base. There, Tu-95MS bombers and Tu-160 bombers are stationed. The city also contains an oil depot, which has been targeted before.

It is still unknown which drones were used in the attack, but it's useful to recall Ukraine's long-range drone arsenal. Most of them are regularly used for strikes on enemy territory.

Since the beginning of the conflict, Ukraine has been actively developing various drones to meet the needs of its armed forces. Among these are long-range kamikaze drones. The Ukrainian army also has older, modified models capable of covering substantial distances and penetrating Russian air defences. These include the Tu-141 "Strizh" UAV, the UJ-22 "Airborne" drone, the Bóbr drone, and the Rubaka drone.

The Tu-141 "Strizh" is a Soviet-era unmanned reconnaissance aircraft developed in the 1960s by the Tupolev design bureau. It measures about 14 metres in length and has a wingspan of 4 metres. Equipped with a Tumansky KR-17A turbojet engine producing 19,600 newtons of thrust, it reaches a maximum speed of 1,100 km/h, has an operational range of up to 1,000 kilometres, and can fly at an altitude of 6,000 metres. Initially used for reconnaissance missions, carrying cameras, radars, and infrared cameras, Ukraine has adapted some of these drones to carry explosive payloads, making them dangerous weapons.

The UJ-22 "Airborne" drone, produced by Ukrjet, can also breach Russian air defences. There is evidence that these UAVs have flown over Russian territory. It has a range of up to 800 kilometres and cruises at approximately 120-160 km/h. Thanks to its modular design, this drone can be equipped with various observational systems and weaponry.

Meanwhile, the Rubaka is a kamikaze drone in the loitering munitions category. Although its specifications remain unknown, reports suggest it has a range of 500 kilometres, allowing it to destroy distant ground targets, including enemy forces and strategic infrastructural objects. The specifications of the Bóbr drones are also not well-known; however, these devices pose a serious threat to Russian military equipment, as they can cover distances of even 800-1,000 kilometres. Recently, Ukraine also reported successfully testing a new drone with a range of 3,000 kilometres.

The Tu-95MS, known as the "Bear" in the West, is a machine that, despite its age, still commands respect. It is characterized by four powerful Kuznetsov NK-12 turboprop engines driving unique, counter-rotating propellers. This enables the bomber to reach a speed of approximately 830 km/h, and its operational range exceeds 12,000 kilometres. Constructed in the 1950s, it has been repeatedly modernized, particularly in avionics and armaments.

The Tu-95MS is adapted to carry Kh-55 cruise missiles (NATO designation: AS-15 Kent) with ranges over 2,500 kilometres and their newer versions, Kh-101 and Kh-102. These missiles, with stealth technology, allow the Tu-95MS to attack targets deep within enemy territory from a safe distance.

A more modern design is the Tu-160, referred to as the "White Swan," although NATO coded it as "Blackjack." It is the world's largest and fastest supersonic bomber, powered by four NK-32 engines, enabling speeds of up to Mach 2.2 and distances up to 14,000 kilometres without refuelling.

The machine features variable-sweep wings, which provide great flexibility during high-altitude flights and at lower altitudes. Its main advantage is its ability to carry strategic cruise missiles Kh-101 and Kh-102, like the Tu-95MS, and free-fall bombs, both conventional and nuclear. The Tu-160's onboard systems have been modernized under the Tu-160M program, enhancing resistance to electronic warfare and improving combat capabilities.

The Engels base is home to these machines and a symbol of Russia's deterrence strategy, which is built on the nuclear triad. Bombers regularly take off from this base to conduct patrol flights over the Arctic, the Black Sea, and NATO territories. Engels also has strategic logistical significance—it is one of the few centres in Russia equipped to service such bombers, with extensive technical infrastructure and aircraft shelters.

The Ukrainian drone attacks on the Engels base have demonstrated the importance and, at the same time, the vulnerability of this point on the Russian military map – any loss or damage to the machines stationed there would be a severe blow to Russia’s prestige and its actual capabilities in conducting long-range operations.