Explosions heard in Russian cities Saratov and Engels, where Russia keeps its strategic bombers. Four airports suspended their operations
Strategic Bombardiers at the Engels military base in Russia, photo: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service / AP / Profimedia
On the morning of July 1, the inhabitants of the cities of Saratov and Engels, from the Saratov region of the Russian Federation, reported explosions and activation of air raid sirens. The interim governor of the Rostov region announced that the Drone attack was rejected, but that the activity of 4 Russian airports has been suspended, Ukraîinska Pravda reports.
Roman Busargin, the governor of the Saratov region, reported around 4 in the morning “the threat represented by a drone attack” and that “all the emergency services were put on maximum alert”.
The Russian Telegram Astra channel, citing locals, said that the explosions in Saratov and Engels have led to the suspension of the operations of the airport in the first locality. Ulyanovsk, Kazan and Nizhny Kamask (Tatarstan) airports are also closed.
Iuri Sliusar, the governor of Rostov, said that the anti-aircraft defense would have destroyed drones overnight in Rostov-on-Don districts, Taganog, Novoșahtinsk, Millerovsky, Myasnykovsky, Aksaisky, Neklinovsky and Matveyevo-Kurgansky.
He added that, according to preliminary information, no one was injured.
The Russian army claims to have shot down 60 drones launched by Ukrainian forces
The Moscow Ministry of Defense also said that the anti -aircraft defense forces intercepted and destroyed 60 Ukrainian drones above the Russian regions.
“During the past night, the air defense alert systems destroyed and intercepted 60 Ukrainian pilot aircraft: 17 above the territory of the Republic of Crimea, 16 above the territory of the Rostov region, 11 above the Azov sea waters, 5 above the territory of the Kursk region, 4 above the territory of the Saratov region, 3 And 1 drone was destroyed above the territories of the Voronej and Oriol regions, ”said the Russian Defense Ministry, quoted by Tass.
Near the city of Engels is the Military Aerodrome Engels-2, where they are based on Russian strategic bombers TU-95MS and TU-16.
The city of Nijni Kamsk is hosting one of the largest Russian refineries, Taneco (Tatarstan's oil refining complex).
Near Nijni Kamsk is the city of Elabuga, which houses the special economic area Alabuga, where “Shahed” Russian attack drones are assembled.
These settlements are located over a thousand kilometers from the border with Ukraine. All these objectives have already been repeatedly targeted by drones launched by the Ukrainian armed forces.
Ukraine has launched a massive attack on objectives in Engels and Saratov's localities earlier this year, and then again against the Engels aerodrome in March.
