The Ukrainian military reported on Wednesday that it successfully targeted a fuel storage depot deep inside Russia, resulting in a significant fire at the facility that serves a crucial Russian air base. The strike, which occurred near Engels in Russia's Saratov region, approximately 600 kilometers east of the Ukrainian border, disrupted the supply chain for an airfield utilized by Russian aircraft launching missiles into Ukraine.
Ukraine's General Staff disclosed that the assault was part of its efforts to counter Russian aggression, with the country enhancing its arsenal of domestically produced long-range missiles and drones capable of reaching deep into enemy territory. These attacks have posed logistical challenges for Russian forces and have been a source of embarrassment for the Kremlin.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously announced Ukraine's development of a weapon capable of striking targets up to 700 kilometers away, with recent drone attacks reaching distances exceeding 1,000 kilometers. The strike on the fuel storage depot in Engels resulted in a fire that also caused damage to an industrial plant in the area, although no injuries were reported.
The disruption to the oil base's operations has significantly hampered the strategic aviation capabilities of Russian forces, limiting their ability to target Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. In response to the attack, Russian authorities imposed flight restrictions at several airports, including Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Kazan, and Nizhnekamsk.
Engels, situated on the Volga River and home to various industrial facilities, has been a frequent target of Ukrainian drone attacks, particularly due to its proximity to Russia's main base for nuclear-capable strategic bombers. The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which commenced on February 24, 2022, continues to escalate as both sides employ advanced military technologies in their operations.
For more updates on the war in Ukraine, visit AP's coverage.
