Ukraine Launches Preemptive Drone Strikes on Engels and Dyagilevo Airbases, Hitting Strategic Russian Military Targets
In the early hours of June 6, Ukraine’s Armed Forces executed a coordinated drone offensive targeting critical Russian military infrastructure at Engels and Dyagilevo airbases, located in the Saratov and Ryazan regions respectively.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to United24.
The operation, confirmed by Ukraine’s General Staff, aimed to disrupt Russian aerial capabilities used in strikes against Ukrainian territory.
The attack struck an oil storage facility in Engels, reportedly used to refuel Russia’s Engels-2 airbase, a key launch site for strategic bombers.
At least three fuel tanks were destroyed, sparking a large-scale fire and a series of powerful explosions. Russian emergency services were unable to contain the blaze, with heavy smoke still visible hours after the strike.
Engels-2 is known for housing long-range bombers regularly involved in launching cruise missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.
At Dyagilevo airbase, Ukrainian drones reportedly penetrated air defenses, causing further fires near key aviation infrastructure. The facility is home to aerial refueling aircraft and fighter escorts that support bombing operations. It also serves as one of Russia’s central hubs for long-range strategic aviation.
In parallel with these attacks, Ukrainian forces also struck a logistics base belonging to Russia’s 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment near the village of Kulbaki in the Kursk region. The hub is part of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division, and the extent of the destruction is still being evaluated.
Meanwhile, a powerful explosion was reported in the vicinity of Bryansk Airport, with preliminary intelligence suggesting that Ukrainian drones may have neutralized ballistic missile systems being prepared for a night-time strike on Ukrainian territory.
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