After Weeks of Russian Bombing, Ukraine Strikes Back
As a result of the attack, the Russian Aerospace Forces will likely relocate aircraft further away from the frontlines in order to avoid similar strikes in the future.
The Ukrainian military launched a drone attack against a prominent Russian air base, landing their first major blow on Russian soil in 2025.
A proposed ceasefire that would stop these long-range strikes on both sides’ territory appears to have stalled—and so the fighting goes on.
Ukrainian Suicide Drone Attack Against Russian Air Base
“The Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted an Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) attack on an ammunition storage area located at Russia’s Engels-2 Strategic Aviation airbase overnight on 19-20 March,” the British Ministry of Defence assessed in its latest intelligence estimate of the Ukrainian conflict.
Located approximately 380 miles from the border with Ukraine, Engels-2 is one of the Russian Aerospace Forces main air bases. In the context of the Ukrainian conflict, the air base is almost solely used for long-range strike sorties.
The Ukrainian military and intelligence services have dedicated vast resources and time to targeting Russian assets behind the long-range missile and drone campaign against Ukraine. In one notable operation, the Ukrainians assassinated a Russian submarine officer who led his vessel in several missile strikes against Ukrainian urban centers and critical infrastructure.
The Russian Aerospace Forces have underperformed in the war. Despite a qualitative and numerical superiority over the Ukrainian Air Force, the Russian Aerospace Forces have largely failed to achieve air superiority in the skies over Ukraine. As such, Russian pilots have struggled to tactically support friendly forces on the ground and maximize their effectiveness. Instead, in order to avoid Ukrainian air defenses, the Russian Aerospace Forces have resorted to long-range strikes and occasional uses as air artillery.
“The area struck almost certainly stored a range of aerial munitions being used against Ukraine, causing significant damage. The substantial loss will likely disrupt strike operations from the airfield in the short term, forcing Russia to improve its defensive posture and replenish munitions stocks,” the British Ministry of Defence added.
The Russian military also has a serious munitions issue, even resorting to military aid from North Korea and Iran.
Positioning Changes Likely to Favor Ukraine
As a result of the attack, the Russian Aerospace Forces will likely relocate aircraft further away from the frontlines in order to avoid similar strikes in the future. They may also dedicate more air defense assets in protecting Engels-2 and other air bases, weakening other assets and resources—particularly taking into account Moscow’s limited air defense capabilities.
“Russian aircraft have also highly likely been dispersed to surrounding airfields, as has become standard practice in response to Ukrainian deep strike operations,” the British Ministry of Defence stated.
“This strike is Ukraine’s most successful targeting of a Russian munitions depot in 2025 so far and continues the pattern of regular Ukrainian UAS strikes deep into Russian territory. It also highlights the continuing struggles that stretched Russian air defence faces in protecting its strategic military locations,” the Ministry of Defence concluded in its intelligence estimate.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock / Valentina Perfilyeva.