Ukraine targets strategic bomber base in Engels as Russia launches multiple drone strikes in eastern region.
Intensive Russian bombings in eastern Ukraine escalated overnight, resulting in two fatalities, while Ukraine retaliated by attacking Russia’s Engels military airfield in the Saratov region with drones.
Both sides intensified their aerial assaults early Thursday as US President Donald Trump urges a ceasefire after over three years of conflict.
Ukrainian officials report that more than three dozen glide bombs were dropped by Russia on towns in the border regions of Sumy and Kharkiv, killing two people and injuring several more.
Russian drone attacks on Kropyvnytskyi, far from the front line, left 14 wounded and damaged rail infrastructure.
“Kropyvnytskyi saw the most severe enemy attack, with residential buildings destroyed,” stated regional governor Andriy Raikovych.
The Ukrainian Air Force claimed that the Russian barrage, including Kropyvnytskyi, consisted of 171 drones, with 75 intercepted and another 63 neutralized by electronic measures.
Ukraine also targeted the Russian Engels airbase in the Saratov region, causing fires and explosions, according to the Ukrainian military.
The airbase houses Russian strategic bombers used in Ukraine and stores cruise missiles and glide bombs, as reported by a Security Service of Ukraine official.
“This is significant because the city houses Russia’s strategic bombers,” noted Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari from Moscow. “While not the first attack on this area, it is the largest since the war began in February 2022. A state of emergency has been declared.”
Regional authorities reported 10 injuries due to the attack, with 30 civilian homes and the city’s main hospital damaged.
“According to Russia’s defense ministry, this is another indication that Ukraine is not committed to a peace settlement,” added Jabbari.
These reciprocal attacks come after Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged a 30-day halt on strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure but stopped short of a full ceasefire.
“It’s a partial ceasefire, covering only the energy infrastructure of each country, and not yet implemented,” explained Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig reporting from Kyiv. “Negotiations will finalize the details in Saudi Arabia in the coming days. For now, fighting continues. Ukraine refuses to acknowledge occupied territories as part of the Russian Federation, so the war is far from over.”
Both sides intensified their aerial assaults early Thursday as US President Donald Trump urges a ceasefire after over three years of conflict.
Ukrainian officials report that more than three dozen glide bombs were dropped by Russia on towns in the border regions of Sumy and Kharkiv, killing two people and injuring several more.
Russian drone attacks on Kropyvnytskyi, far from the front line, left 14 wounded and damaged rail infrastructure.
“Kropyvnytskyi saw the most severe enemy attack, with residential buildings destroyed,” stated regional governor Andriy Raikovych.
The Ukrainian Air Force claimed that the Russian barrage, including Kropyvnytskyi, consisted of 171 drones, with 75 intercepted and another 63 neutralized by electronic measures.
Ukraine also targeted the Russian Engels airbase in the Saratov region, causing fires and explosions, according to the Ukrainian military.
The airbase houses Russian strategic bombers used in Ukraine and stores cruise missiles and glide bombs, as reported by a Security Service of Ukraine official.
“This is significant because the city houses Russia’s strategic bombers,” noted Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari from Moscow. “While not the first attack on this area, it is the largest since the war began in February 2022. A state of emergency has been declared.”
Regional authorities reported 10 injuries due to the attack, with 30 civilian homes and the city’s main hospital damaged.
“According to Russia’s defense ministry, this is another indication that Ukraine is not committed to a peace settlement,” added Jabbari.
These reciprocal attacks come after Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged a 30-day halt on strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure but stopped short of a full ceasefire.
“It’s a partial ceasefire, covering only the energy infrastructure of each country, and not yet implemented,” explained Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig reporting from Kyiv. “Negotiations will finalize the details in Saudi Arabia in the coming days. For now, fighting continues. Ukraine refuses to acknowledge occupied territories as part of the Russian Federation, so the war is far from over.”
Peace Talks Expected Soon
On Thursday, the Kremlin indicated that further US-Russia talks may occur on Sunday or early next week, following upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia between Washington and Kyiv.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that Europe must continue to strongly support Ukraine, regardless of talks between Washington and Moscow.
“We must continue our support with a clear stance that a just peace must be achievable for Ukraine,” stated Scholz before a European Union leaders’ summit on Thursday.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused European countries of planning to “militarize” themselves rather than seeking a resolution to the conflict.
