The night of July 25 saw fires break out simultaneously at three locations deep within Russia — Rostov-on-Don, Belgorod, and Engels in Saratov Oblast. The scale of the attacks varies, and causal connections are not confirmed everywhere.
Engels: fire near strategic aviation airfield
The most resonant incident occurred around 02:40 in Saratov Oblast. Kyiv Independent reports that flames erupted on the territory of Engels-2 airfield — eyewitnesses published videos of smoke and fire from the base. Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations announced a missile threat and drone threat over the region before the fire.
The base is continuously stationed with Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 — three types of strategic bombers that Russia regularly uses for missile strikes on Ukraine. According to OSINT analysis by Astra, the fire covered a building on Engels-1 Street, where military unit facilities were likely located.
"The location and analysis of video materials confirm the fire at the military airfield Engels"
— ASTRA, OSINT analysis
The cause of the fire has not been officially established. RBC-Ukraine notes: locals did not hear sounds of an attack, so a direct connection to a strike has not been confirmed. This is not the first incident at the base: on July 17, the SBU confirmed the destruction of strategic bomber Tu-95 in Engels — drones then traveled nearly 800 kilometers.
Rostov: massed attack, five wounded
At three in the morning, residents of Rostov-on-Don recorded a series of powerful explosions. According to Governor Yuri Slyusar, the region suffered a massed attack by drones and missiles — air defense shot down targets over the city. Damage is confirmed in the Soviet and Railway districts: two apartment buildings, two private houses, commercial buildings, and warehouses were damaged.
- Four wounded in Rostov-on-Don
- One wounded in Krasnosulinsky District
- Infrastructure of the Novoshakhtinsk checkpoint damaged
- Nine airports in southern Russia temporarily ceased operations
On July 12, a drone already damaged a tanker in the Azov-Black Sea Canal in Rostov Oblast — the region systematically falls within the strike zone.
Belgorod: strike on commercial facility
Acting Governor of Belgorod Oblast Alexander Shuvaev confirmed casualties, damage, and fires. According to the operational headquarters, a drone hit a commercial facility, with one man wounded. Details are minimal, with no reports of major destruction.
What is confirmed and what is not
The attack on Rostov and Belgorod has been officially recorded — governors of both regions confirmed the fact of strikes and their consequences. Regarding Engels — the picture is different: the fire exists, drone threats over the region were announced, but no direct connection between the strike and the fire has been officially established. Neither Kyiv nor Moscow confirmed the strike on Engels as of the morning of July 25.
Context matters: after the SBU operation "Pavutynnia" in June 2025, which damaged several strategic bombers, Russia began dispersing aircraft — some Tu-95s were relocated to the "Ukrainka" base in the Far East. However, Engels remains a key hub for preparing bombers for missile launches.
If the fact of a strike on Engels is confirmed by satellite imagery — as happened after the July 16 attack — the question will arise: did Russia manage to remove the equipment it planned to relocate from hangars after previous strikes.
