Strike on Engels disrupted Russia's massive missile attack on Ukraine

"Publicly available information indicates that one Tu-95MS strategic bomber requires more than 77 tons of fuel. In essence, a single bomber consumes fuel equivalent to what a tank battalion might use for one attack. This is not an exaggeration," Kyrychevskyi explained.

The expert noted that the destruction of the oil depot in Engels could indeed thwart Russian plans, as bombers require a significant amount of fuel.

"According to information disseminated by Russian monitoring channels, several Tu-95MS bombers were reportedly stationed at the Engels airbase, prepared for a missile attack on Ukrainian territory. Unfortunately, it is impossible to confirm or refute this information based on satellite images.

The strike on the oil depot in Engels was not symbolic but countered our undue pessimism. Leading up to December 31, there was much talk of Russians attacking Ukraine on New Year’s Eve. The opposite happened: Ukraine struck Russian strategic aviation. I am inclined to believe that the strike on the oil depot in Engels was an attempt to disrupt a Russian strategic aviation strike on Ukrainian territory," he added.

“The destruction of the oil depot raises major logistic challenges for the strategic aviation of the Russian occupiers and significantly reduces their ability to strike at peaceful Ukrainian cities and civilian objects,” Ukraine’s military said. Oleksandr Kamyshin, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said the drones used in the long-range attack had been made in Ukraine.

Long-range drone strikes have played a prominent role over nearly three years of war between Russia and Ukraine. As land warfare has become more attritional, Kyiv has increasingly taken the battle to the skies and enjoyed considerable success, seeking to disrupt Russian logistics, damage its weapons stockpiles and set its oil facilities ablaze. The depot's destruction creates significant logistical problems for Russian strategic aviation and reduces its ability to attack. Recall, the Engels-2 base hosts the 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, operating Tu-160 bombers, and the 184th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment with the Tupolev Tu-95 MS planes.

Russia uses these aircraft to launch mass strikes on Ukraine, often resulting in heavy damage to infrastructure and civilian casualties. Ukrainian forces have previously launched drone strikes targeting the airbase itself.