Russian media report explosion at one Russian airfield, drone crash at another
A fuel tanker exploded at an airfield in the Russian city of Ryazan, killing at least three people. A drone also fell on bomber jets in Saratov Oblast.
Source: RIA Novosti, Kremlin-aligned media outlet, citing emergency services; Meduza, Latvia-based Russian media outlet, citing Astra and Baza
Details: Russian media report that a fuel tanker ignited and subsequently exploded at an airfield in Ryazan. Three people were killed, six more injured.
The news outlets also reported that a drone fell on a runway in Saratov Oblast. Two Tupolev Tu-95 bomber jets were damaged. Injured servicemen were hospitalised.
Updated at 10:08: The governor of the Saratov Oblast assures that "there are no reasons to worry." According to him, not a single object of civil infrastructure was damaged. Information about events at military facilities is checked by law enforcement agencies.
Background: Long-range Russian aviation is stationed at both airfields. The Dyagilyaevo airfield is located near Ryazan, and the Engels airfield is in Saratov Oblast.
In particular, there are Tupolev Tu-95MS, Tu-160, Tu-22M3 missile-carrying bombers based there. The main characteristic of these planes is their ability to launch deadly cruise missiles from a distance of more than 1000 kilometres. Ukraine’s forces have recorded the use of these bombers in the Black and Caspian seas to strike Ukrainian cities with cruise missiles at a distance of more than 1000 kilometres.
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