Ukraine hits second Tu-95 bomber at Russian airbase

Ukraine’s Security Service struck a Russian Tu-95MS strategic bomber at the Engels-2 airbase in Russia’s Saratov region overnight Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, citing operations by the agency’s Alpha special operations unit, Militarnyi reported.

The strike marks the second time in roughly six weeks that Ukrainian drones operated by the SBU’s “Alpha” Center for Special Operations have hit a Tu-95 at the same base. A previous strike on July 16 destroyed a Tu-95MS bomber, with satellite imagery later confirming its tail section had been destroyed beyond repair.

“In the Russian city of Engels, SBU’s ‘Alpha’ fighters struck a Tu-95MS missile carrier. These are the exact aircraft that strike Ukraine,” Zelensky said.

Local residents reported explosions and a large number of drones over the area during the overnight attack, according to Militarnyi.

Satellite imagery reviewed by open-source analysts shows the aircraft struck in Friday’s attack with significant damage to its right wing, alongside the previously damaged Tu-95 from the July strike, which remains visible nearby with its tail section torn off.

The Engels-2 airbase hosts Russia’s Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bomber fleets, which regularly launch Kh-101 cruise missiles at Ukrainian targets. The base also stores munitions, fuel and maintenance equipment for the aircraft.