For the second time in a month, Ukrainian drones have attacked a Rosneft oil refinery and a strategic bomber base in Russia’s Saratov region, according to local officials and media reports.
The overnight strikes on February 11 targeted an industrial facility in Saratov, which suffered damage, according to regional governor Roman Busargin. He reported that emergency services were on-site but stated that no casualties had been confirmed.
According to "Beware, News," the affected facility was the Saratov Oil Refinery, part of Rosneft, Russia’s state-owned oil giant. Witnesses described explosions and a fire at the plant, located in the Zavodskoy district of Saratov.
The refinery was previously hit by Ukrainian drones on January 14, causing another fire at the time.
This was reported by The Moscow Times.
Engels Airbase Targeted Again
In addition to the refinery, Ukrainian drones also attacked Engels, a city that houses one of Russia’s most important strategic bomber bases.
Reports from Shot indicate that local residents heard loud explosions and machine gun fire around 4 a.m., suggesting an attempted drone interception at the Engels military airfield.
This airbase is a key hub for Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers, which Russia frequently uses to launch cruise missile attacks on Ukraine. A previous drone attack on January 14 targeted the same base, causing a massive fire at the Kristall oil depot, which burned for five days and resulted in the deaths of two Russian emergency workers.
Another strike on January 8 also ignited fires at the same depot.
Russian Air Defenses on High Alert
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that 40 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed overnight, including:
18 over Saratov Region
13 over Rostov Region
6 over Bryansk Region
2 over Volgograd Region
1 over Belgorod Region
Due to the drone threat, airports in Kazan, Kirov, Saratov, and Ulyanovsk temporarily suspended operations, according to Rosaviatsia.
