Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The air base is also the home of nuclear-capable bombers.
The air base is also the home of nuclear-capable bombers.
What is happening?
A Russian warplane accidentally released a FAB-500 bomb near Engels-2 airbase on October 12, independent Russian news outlet ASTRA reports.
The bomb weighed 500 kg (1,100 lbs) and carried the explosive power of 0.2 tons of TNT. It fell on a village just nine miles from the high-security facility in Saratov region.
It did not detonate, and no casualties were reported.
The heart of Russia’s nuclear air fleet
The Engels-2 airbase is home to Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-95MS Bear bombers, key to Russia’s strategic nuclear arsenal.
It also reportedly stores nuclear warheads for air-launched cruise missiles like the Kh-55 and Kh-102. although these reports have not been verified.
Plane was likely bound for Ukraine strike
The aircraft had taken off from Engels-2 and was likely en route to bomb targets in Ukraine.
ASTRA reported that systemic flaws in Russia’s weapons tech have led to bombs failing to reach their intended targets, instead falling on Russian or Russian-occupied territory.
Dozens of similar accidents in 2025
This wasn’t an isolated case. ASTRA claims there have been at least 126 accidental bomb or missile releases on Russian soil or occupied Ukraine so far in 2025.
In 2024, that figure was even higher, at 165 incidents, raising concerns about Russia’s operational control.
Engels airbase has long been a Ukrainian target
Ukraine has repeatedly struck Engels-2 in efforts to cripple Russia’s aerial bombardment capacity.
Dmytro Zhmailo, from the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, said destroying the base is a top priority for weakening Moscow’s ability to wage war.
March drone attack left base in flames
One of the largest recent strikes came in March, when 132 Ukrainian drones targeted Engels.
Verified videos showed huge plumes of smoke and widespread fire near the airfield.
The assault damaged fuel depots, destroyed nearby cottages, and forced evacuations in the area.
Who is ASTRA?
According to it’s website, ASTRA was launched immediately following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 as a volunteer-based outlet reacting to the widespread censorship in Russia.
“At that moment, the most important thing seemed to be simply not to be silent, to talk about what was happening,” Anastasia Chumakova, founder and chief editor of ASTRA, says on the website.
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, which may have used AI in the preparation
