Ukraine Bombs Key Russian Engels-2 Airbase, Recaptures Territory: Kyiv Endures Moscow’s Drone Onslaught
Flooring Guide by Cinvex – As Russia continues to unleash relentless aerial assaults on Ukraine with a barrage of drones and missiles, Ukrainian forces have successfully targeted the origins of some of these attacks, the BBC reported on Sunday (March 23, 2025).
The report detailed that one of these pivotal Ukrainian counter-attacks precisely struck Russia’s Engels-2 Airbase.
Read also: Crippling Russian Infantry, Ukraine Aims to Produce 4.5 Million Drones by 2025
This strike represents a considerable setback for Moscow. Not only is the Engels-2 Airbase situated deep within Russian territory, but it also serves as a critical hub for Moscow’s strategic bombers and a vital refueling point for these long-range aircraft.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, Engels-2 also houses an arsenal of weapons, including air-launched Kh-101 subsonic cruise missiles. These missiles, each costing millions of dollars, have been frequently deployed in devastating nighttime attacks against Ukrainian targets.
“The drone assault on Engels reportedly annihilated an ammunition storage facility, with compelling before-and-after satellite imagery from Maxar detailing the extensive scope of the operation,” the report stated.
Lieutenant Andriy Kovalenko, Head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council’s Center for Countering Disinformation, posted on Telegram, “In Engels, Russia lost missiles, including Kh-101s, as a direct consequence of the attack. The exact quantity will be clarified later. This airfield stores the largest number of missiles utilized by strategic aviation for strikes against Ukraine.”
While Russia’s military operations are characterized by the sheer scale of its attacks, Ukraine’s far more constrained resources necessitate a strategic focus on precise strikes against key military installations to maximize impact.
“Russia is expected to persist with its nightly attacks in an effort to overwhelm the air defense and electronic warfare systems employed by Kyiv to counter the incoming drones,” the BBC report concluded.
Ukraine Recaptures Village in Luhansk
In a separate development in the ongoing conflict, the Ukrainian Army has claimed the recapture of Nadiya, a village located in the Luhansk region in the eastern part of the country.
A Telegram post indicated that Nadiya was secured following a 30-hour operation, which also saw Ukrainian forces regain control over an area spanning three square kilometers.
The post further included video footage depicting the intense combat, including engagements involving tanks.
However, these combat recordings have not yet been independently verified.
At the outset of the conflict, Russia had largely seized control of the entire Luhansk region, a primary strategic objective of President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Currently, a significant portion of Luhansk still remains under the operational control of the Russian military.
Three Killed in Russian Strikes on Kyiv
Conversely, early Sunday morning Russian assaults on Ukraine claimed the lives of three individuals in Kyiv and left several others injured, according to local officials.
One eyewitness vividly recounted that “everyone started screaming and running” as debris from the attack struck a residential apartment block.
The Ukrainian Air Force announced that it had successfully intercepted and shot down 97 out of 147 Russian drones launched towards the country.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defense asserted that its forces shot down nearly 60 Ukrainian drones, reporting one fatality after a car caught fire following an attack.
Following these recent attacks on his nation’s capital, Ukrainian President Zelensky has called for renewed international pressure on Russia.
This appeal comes after the Kremlin indicated they were a step closer to a face-to-face meeting between former US President Trump and Russian President Putin – though a spokesperson cautioned that “difficult” technical discussions would be necessary before such a meeting could proceed.
US and Ukrainian delegations are slated to convene in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, as Washington intensifies its diplomatic efforts to broker a resolution to the conflict.
On Monday, the US is also expected to hold talks with its Russian counterparts.
Putin, however, has rejected a joint US-Ukrainian plea for a full and immediate 30-day ceasefire, instead proposing a halt to attacks solely on energy facilities.
(oln/bbc/*)
Summary
Ukrainian forces successfully struck Russia’s Engels-2 Airbase, a critical hub for strategic bombers and Kh-101 cruise missiles located deep within Russian territory. This precision attack reportedly annihilated an ammunition storage facility. Additionally, the Ukrainian Army recaptured the village of Nadiya in the Luhansk region, regaining three square kilometers after a 30-hour operation.
Meanwhile, Russian drone assaults on Kyiv resulted in three deaths and several injuries, with Ukraine intercepting 97 out of 147 incoming drones. Ukrainian President Zelensky has called for renewed international pressure on Russia. Diplomatic efforts continue, including US-Ukrainian meetings in Saudi Arabia and planned US-Russian talks, though Putin rejected a full ceasefire, proposing only a halt to attacks on energy facilities.