Ukrainian drone strikes expose vulnerability in Russian airbase

The Ukrainian military service reports that explosions began at approximately 2:00 AM Greenwich Mean Time. Thick smoke was visible in the nearby area, about 10 kilometres from the base, where Russian strategic bombers, which are employed for missile attacks on Ukraine, are stationed. Following the attack, residents of nearby buildings were evacuated.

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

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

Since the beginning of the armed conflict, Ukraine has been intensively developing various drones to meet the requirements of its armed forces. Among these devices are long-range kamikaze drones. The Ukrainian army also possesses older, modified models that can cover substantial distances and penetrate 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 2,000 kilograms of thrust, it reaches a maximum speed of 1,100 km/h, an operational range of up to 1,000 kilometres, and an altitude of 6,000 metres. Initially, it served reconnaissance missions, carrying onboard cameras, radars, and infrared devices. Currently, Ukraine has adapted some of these drones to carry explosive payloads, making them hazardous weapons.

The UJ-22 "Airborne" drone, produced by Ukrjet, can also breach Russian air defences. Evidence has previously surfaced of these UAVs flying over Russian territory. Its range is up to 800 kilometres, and its cruising speed is approximately 120-160 km/h. Thanks to its modular design, this drone can be equipped with various observational systems and weaponry.

The Rubaka, on the other hand, is a kamikaze drone in the category of loitering munitions. Although its specifications are still unknown, reports indicate that it has a range of 500 kilometres, allowing it to destroy distant ground targets, including enemy forces and strategic infrastructure. 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 a distance 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 characterised 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. Though the aircraft's construction dates back to the 1950s, it has been repeatedly modernised, especially concerning avionics and armaments.

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

The Tu-160, also known as the "White Swan," although NATO codenamed it "Blackjack, " is of a much more modern design. It is the world's largest and fastest supersonic bomber, powered by four NK-32 engines. These engines enable it to reach speeds of up to Mach 2.2 and cover a distance of up to 14,000 kilometres without refuelling.

The machine features variable-sweep wings, which provide 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 modernised under the Tu-160M programme, enhancing their resistance to electronic warfare measures and improving combat capabilities.

The Engels base is home to these machines and a symbol of Russia's deterrence strategy based on the nuclear triad. Bombers regularly take off from it to carry out 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 adapted to service such a class of bombers, equipped with extensive technical infrastructure and aircraft shelters.

The Ukrainian drone attacks on the Engels base have demonstrated how vital and simultaneously vulnerable this point is on the Russian military map – any loss or damage to the machines stationed there is a severe blow to Russia’s prestige and fundamental capabilities in conducting long-range operations.