Ukrainian drone strike destroys Russian Tu‑95 bomber at Engels airbase

Satellite imagery from Planet Labs released in July confirmed that a Russian Tu‑95 strategic bomber was destroyed at the Engels‑2 airbase in Russia’s Saratov region. The images show the aircraft’s tail section completely severed after a long‑range drone attack carried out by Ukrainian forces on 17 July, roughly 800 km from the Ukrainian border.

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said the strike was intended to reduce Russia’s military and economic capabilities, noting that the damage is beyond repair and that the loss eliminates the bomber’s ability to launch cruise missiles. President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the operation as a successful “long‑range sanction” against Moscow. Analysts estimate Russia operates about 45 Tu‑95MS bombers, making the loss a significant, though not decisive, blow to its strategic aviation fleet.