Saturday, August 29, 2026 - Ukraine has struck another Russian Tu-95MS strategic bomber at the Engels-2 airbase in Russia’s Saratov region, marking the second reported hit on a Tu-95 at the base in roughly six weeks.
Ukraine’s Security Service said its Alpha special operations unit carried out the latest strike, while President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the aircraft was targeted. Satellite imagery and open-source analysis have since indicated significant damage to the bomber.
The attack is significant because the Tu-95MS is one of Russia’s principal platforms for launching long-range cruise missiles against Ukraine. A previous strike at Engels-2 on July 16 destroyed another Tu-95, according to Ukrainian officials and subsequent satellite imagery.
Repeated attacks on the same strategic airbase demonstrate Ukraine’s growing ability to reach deep inside Russian territory and put pressure on aircraft that are central to Moscow’s long-range strike campaign.
The latest strike could further complicate Russia’s ability to sustain its long-range bombardment of Ukraine while forcing Moscow to reconsider how and where it protects its strategic aircraft.
It also comes as both sides intensify attacks far beyond the front line, increasing the risk of a broader escalation. For Ukraine, targeting the bombers is not simply about destroying individual aircraft—it is an attempt to reduce the firepower behind Russia’s continuing missile campaign.
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