Ukrainian drones strike Russia's Engels airbase overnight

The information comes from Ukrainian Pravda, RBC-Ukraine, and NV, citing their own sources.

A source stated, "The Ukrainian-made kamikaze drone 'Lyutyy' performed impressively. The demilitarization and decommunization of Engels will continue."

The aftermath of the attack is currently being assessed.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claims to have intercepted the drones.

"The Kyiv regime's attempts to carry out terrorist attacks using aircraft-type UAVs on Russian territory were thwarted last night," the message reads.

Russian air defense reportedly shot down one drone over the Belgorod region and four more over the Saratov region.

Governor Roman Busargin and the Russian Telegram channel SHOT reported air defense work over the Saratov region.

At 4:22 a.m., Busargin announced that less than an hour earlier, a UAV was reportedly shot down over Engels by the Russian air defense system.

He stated that there were no casualties or infrastructure damage from the debris.

According to SHOT, residents reported hearing engine sounds in the sky before powerful explosions occurred in Engels. Eyewitnesses claim to have heard 2 to 4 loud explosions that rattled windows in their frames.

• On March 17, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported drone attacks on the Belgorod and Bryansk regions. 
• On the same day, Russia accused Ukraine of drone attacks in eight regions, including an oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban and explosions near Domodedovo airport in the Moscow suburbs.