(L) Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during an interview with TV host and Director General of Rossiya Segodnya (RIA Novosti) news agency. (Photo by GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) / (R) U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky together in the Oval Office at the White House on February 28, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
OAN Staff Brooke Mallory 5:32 PM – Thursday, March 20, 2025
Approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles) from the front lines of the conflict, Ukraine carried out drone strikes on a significant Russian strategic bomber airfield on Thursday, resulting in a large explosion and fire, as reported by both Russian and Ukrainian officials.
Advertisement
In response, Russian forces conducted a “massive drone strike” on the Black Sea port of Odesa on Thursday, injuring three individuals and damaging a shopping center and a high-rise residential building, according to the regional governor.
Oleh Kiper, the governor of Odesa Oblast, reported that three areas within the city experienced power outages and that strikes had ignited fires in three separate locations.
Political analysts indicate that the expected U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia is unlikely to materialize soon, contrary to the hopes expressed by President Donald Trump and other world leaders.
MILITARY UPDATE: Ukrainian forces launched a significant drone attack on Russia’s Engels-2 airbase in Saratov, Saratov Oblast, southwestern Russia, which serves as a key site for Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers. The strike led to fires, explosions, and the evacuation of nearby residents,… pic.twitter.com/8nH4dTorb5
— The Risk Intelligence Group (@riskintelgroup) March 20, 2025
In Russia, footage verified by Reuters displayed a significant explosion at the airbase, obliterating nearby homes. Additional clips showed a large fire and smoke rising into the sky. According to Russia’s defense ministry, notwithstanding the attack, 132 Ukrainian drones were intercepted by air defenses within Russian territory.
The Engels air base, a Soviet-era site, houses Russia’s Tupolev Tu-160 nuclear-capable strategic bombers, commonly known as “White Swans.”
Roman Busargin, the governor of Saratov, announced that residents in the vicinity had been evacuated following a Ukrainian drone strike that ignited a fire on the airstrip. While he did not mention the main airstrip in the area, Reuters reported it as the primary facility. However, Ukraine’s defense ministry confirmed its forces had indeed targeted the airfield, causing munitions to explode.
Kyiv pointed out that Russia had previously attacked them using the Engels facility.
According to Russian officials, the assault resulted in injuries to at least ten people. Some astonished locals reported discovering fragments of Ukrainian drones on their lawns, with Ukraine utilizing Liutyi and PD-2 drones in the operation.
Maxim Leonov, head of the Engels district, declared a local state of emergency but provided limited details.
The Engels airbase has been a repeated target for Ukrainian strikes since December 2022.
Meanwhile, users on social media, especially X, shared their views on the ongoing conflict.
“Why would Russia agree to a ceasefire when it is winning AND Zelensky continues to issue ‘redline’ statements demanding that Russia withdraw from Crimea and Donbas before peace is possible? Russia isn’t going anywhere,” commented one user on X.
“Russia is completely evil and just needs to leave Ukraine alone; all Putin desires is destruction,” stated another user on X.
Russia’s Sudzha gas pipeline on the Kursk-Sumy border has been struck.
Russia claims Ukraine has already breached the ceasefire proposed by the U.S. pic.twitter.com/vrlDZJljIf
UKRAINE: Zelensky is opposing Trump’s ceasefire attempts, insisting that Russia must return all territories seized since 2014, which he deems a ‘redline’. This situation suggests a prolonged conflict. pic.twitter.com/uL86WPvlc0
