Russian airports hit by drones in early morning strike
Media in Kyiv reported on Monday morning that drones attacked airports in the cities of Saratov and Engels in Russia. A video has already surfaced online showing a drone striking a 38-storey skyscraper.
26 August 2024 09:29
It is from Saratov and Engels airports that strategic bombers launching missiles on Ukraine take off. Drones targeted these two locations, as reported by the media in Kyiv.
The Ukrainian Pravda portal simultaneously reported that on Monday morning, the Russians launched 11 Tu-95 strategic bombers, four of which took off from Engels airport.
So far, there have been no reports of damage at the base or the scale of the Ukrainian attack on the oblast, which is several hundred miles from the Ukrainian border. However, Russian agencies have reported that air traffic in Saratov and the surrounding areas has been temporarily suspended.
The authorities of the Saratov oblast report that it is due to "falling debris from downed Ukrainian drones, which damaged several houses in the cities of Saratov and Engels".
Emergency services have been dispatched to the location. As a result of the attack, four people were injured, including one seriously, wrote Governor Roman Busargin on Telegram.
Drone crashed into skyscraper. Recording
In a recording posted on Telegram by the Russian news channel SHOT, an object that is said to be a residential skyscraper in Saratov with a damaged side wall and broken windows on three floors can be seen. There are also recordings showing the moment the drone crashed into the skyscraper.
Reuters reports that it is not possible to verify this information independently for now. So far, the Ukrainian side has not commented on the Monday attack.