25 July 2026
A barracks caught fire near Russia’s strategic air force base in Engels.
This was reported by the website Astra.
At 1:31 a.m., a drone alert was issued in the city. However, according to local residents, no sounds of explosions or drones or missiles flying overhead were heard.
The fire was also confirmed by the NASA FIRMS monitoring service, which recorded an abnormal temperature spike at 1:46 a.m. on July 25, 2026.
Astra’s OSINT analysis of the fire site indicates that the fire started in a building (coordinates 51.479532919815846, 46.16526255903107) at a military unit’s barracks located 2 km from the airport itself. Additionally, a video published by Exilenova+ on X shows that the scale of the fire itself has significantly increased compared to the videos initially published.
There are currently no official comments from local authorities.
In addition to the military unit, other facilities are located near the airfield, such as the 356 Aircraft Repair Plant.
Astra’s OSINT analysis identifying the location of the fire near the Engels air base, July 25, 2026. Collage by Astra.
Astra’s OSINT analysis identifying the location of the fire near the Engels air base, July 25, 2026. Collage by Astra.
The Russian Federation’s Engels-2 strategic aviation air base is located in the Saratov region, approximately 550–600 km from the Ukrainian border. All types of Russian bombers, such as the Tu-160, Tu-95MS, and Tu-22M3, may be based there.
Before the war, the airfield served as the home base for the 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment of the 22nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Division.
Fire at the Engels air base, July 25, 2026. NASA FIRMS monitoring service.
This is not the first attack on this airfield. On July 16, Ukrainian drones attacked a Tu-95MS bomber that was on the airfield. As a result of the strike, defense forces destroyed the aircraft.
The destructive damage was confirmed by a satellite image showing that the tail section of the aircraft was completely destroyed, rendering it beyond repair.
Earlier, Militarnyi reported that special forces from the National Guard of Ukraine’s Omega Special Purpose Center struck a Russian Su-24M bomber at the Saki military air base with a Hornet drone from a distance of over 185 kilometers from the front line.
Only a barracks got hit. Maybe better luck next time.