At least three Russian military members are dead after the country shot down a Ukrainian drone approaching Engels air base, marking the second time it has been targeted in the last month and signaling weaknesses in Russia’s air defenses.
Russian officials reported that it had shot down the drone as it approached the Engels air base, which is located deep inside the country. Debris from the drone killed at least three Russian military members and injured another four, local outlets reported.
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It’s not clear whether the drones were launched from Ukraine or from within Russian territory, and Ukrainian officials have not taken credit for the attack. The destruction of the drone caused a fire to break out on the base, although the Russian Defense Ministry reported no aircraft were damaged, according to the Associated Press.
The incident on Monday marks the second time this month the air base has been subject to attacks, just three weeks after the Engels and Dyagilevo air bases in Western Russia were targeted by Ukrainian drones on Dec. 5, which left three military members dead and another four injured, according to Reuters.
The Engels air base is located more than 370 miles east of the Ukrainian border and houses nuclear-capable strategic bomber planes that have been used frequently to bomb Ukraine throughout the 10-month war, the outlet reported.
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“These are the consequences of Russian aggression,” said Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat, stopping short of confirming the country’s involvement. “If the Russians thought that the war wouldn’t affect them deep behind their lines, they were deeply mistaken.”
The latest development comes just days after Russian shells pummeled the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson on Saturday, killing at least 10 people and injuring another 55. Saturday marked the 10th month since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
