Three persons got killed and six persons suffered injuries after a fuel tanker exploded at Russia's military airbase in Ryazan, southeast of Moscow. Explosions were also reported at Engels-2 airbase in the Saratov region of Russia. The airbase hosts Tu-95 bombers which were used for cruise missile strikes against Ukraine.
The Ryazan airbase is located 185 kilometres from Moscow and it also hosts Tu-95 bombers. "I want to assure you that no emergencies occurred in the residential areas of the city. There are no reasons for concern. No civilian infrastructure was damaged," Reuters reported quoting a telegram post of Roman Busargin, governor of the Saratov region. He added that law enforcement agencies were inquiring about the airstrikes.
The Engels base is about 730 kilometres southeast of Moscow. The Guardian reported that Engels airbase was a crucial military site for Russia, in terms of its air-force operations against Ukraine and its strategic nuclear forces. The airbase has a nuclear weapons storage bunker with warheads that can be deployed on Russia’s long-range strategic bombers, the publication reported.
Ryazan and Saratov are both located hundreds of miles away from the Ukraine border.
Responding to media queries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that he didn't have specific information about the attacks but said Russian President Vladimir Putin was aware of the
attacks.
Ukraine's Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter, "If something is launched into other countries' airspace, sooner or later unknown flying objects will return to (their) departure
point," Reuters reported. If confirmed as Ukraine's operation, the strike on the Engels airbase would be Ukraine's most daring attack behind Russian lines.
