Wat-Not Staff
On August 26, 2024, Saratov regional airport in Russia resumed normal operations following temporary flight restrictions imposed after a Ukrainian drone attack. The attack, which occurred early in the morning, resulted in damage to residential buildings and injuries to at least one person.
Details of the Attack
According to Russian officials, the drone strike caused significant damage in Saratov and Engels, cities in the Saratov region.
The Russian defence ministry reported that its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed nine drones over the region.
Debris from these drones fell onto residential areas, leading to the hospitalisation of a woman in serious condition.
The regional governor, Roman Busargin, confirmed the incident on Telegram, noting that emergency services were deployed to assess and address the damage.
Impact on the Region
The drone attack impacted key infrastructure, including a strategic bomber military base in Engels, which has been targeted by Ukraine several times since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022.
While there were no immediate reports of damage to the base itself, the residential areas experienced noticeable destruction.
Video footage shared on social media showed damaged buildings, including blown-out windows and structural harm to high-rise apartments in Saratov.
Both Russia and Ukraine have denied targeting civilians, focusing their attacks on military and strategic objectives.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and the broader impact of the conflict on civilian areas, even those far from the front lines.
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