Strikes on air bases in Russia causes criticism from pro-government bloggers

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports, analyzing posts of Russian military bloggers.

Russian media bloggers criticized officials for not predicting and preventing attacks on Engels-2 and Dyaghilevo air bases on December 5. They also claim that strikes were carried out using drones. Some authors have noted that Russian military did not adequately protect airbases. Some of them suggest they did not, despite the fact that these facilities were known to be clear targets for Ukrainian strikes.

As ISW points out, several prominent Russian media bloggers have claimed that Ukrainian sabotage and intelligence groups likely struck Engels-2 air base from Russian territory, claiming that Ukrainian sabotage and intelligence groups are operating either inside Russia or – if UAVs were launched from the territory of Ukraine – that Moscow is under threat from the territory of Ukraine.

• On December 5, military airfields Dyaghilevo in Ryazan region and Engels in Saratov region were hit. Three Russian servicemen who were at the airfield were mortally wounded. Four others were injured. Both airfields serve aircraft that launch missiles over the territory of Ukraine. According to unconfirmed data, two Tu-95MS strategic bombers were damaged by explosion at one of the airfields, and fuel tank exploded at another. In the evening, Russian Ministry of Defense admitted that two airfields had been hit.