In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, the cities of Saratov and Engels faced a massive assault from Ukrainian drones on the night of March 20, 2025. According to the head of the Saratov region, Roman Busargin, this incident marked the largest attack of its kind since the onset of the conflict. The assault resulted in significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including the Engels city clinical hospital No. 1, two kindergartens, and a school.
Several windows were shattered during the attack, injuring two people, including a woman whose condition is currently stable and being monitored by doctors. Additionally, about 30 private houses in nearby villages sustained damage, highlighting the attack's wide-reaching effects. Following these developments, local authorities declared a state of emergency at the municipal level in Engels to address the aftermath and ensure community safety.
Busargin confirmed that on the same night, Russian air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed all 132 drones targeting the Russian territory. The Ministry of Defense reported that 54 of these drones were neutralized in the Saratov region itself, while others were shot down in Voronezh, Belgorod, Rostov, Kursk, and Crimea.
In a telegram message, Maxim Leonov, head of the Engels municipality, stated that efforts are underway to manage the consequences of the drone strike, particularly in local social facilities. He mentioned that a commission would assess the damages to determine the necessary material assistance for affected residents.
Eyewitness accounts have described explosions and fire at an oil depot located near the Engels military airbase, which has long been a target of Ukrainian operations due to its strategic significance. The crackdown led to an evacuation of residents from surrounding areas, particularly from horticultural non-profit associations nearby.
The attack occurred shortly after a conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump on March 18, during which they reached an agreement to cease strikes on each other’s energy facilities for a period of 30 days. The Kremlin had suggested that the drone attacks were a provocation aimed at undermining these diplomatic efforts, with press secretary Dmitry Peskov characterizing the actions of the Ukrainian armed forces as indicative of their lack of negotiation capacity.
Despite this, following the drone attack, Russian air defense also reported managing to shoot down some of its own drones due to confusion amid the heightened alert status. The situation, as stated by the Ministry of Defense, remains fluid as the threat level from further drone strikes persists, prompting increased vigilance from local military and civil authorities.
As a precaution, schools in Engels were closed, and classes were moved to a remote learning format as residents focus on recovering from the strike and assessing damage. Local schools are tracking damage via hotlines to facilitate quick responses and provide necessary support.
In a broader context, the intensity of military actions in the region continues to escalate. Reports indicate heightened combat Zaporozhye and Donetsk directions, with Ukrainian forces actively resisting Russian advances. On the Zaporozhye front, recent Russian territorial gains are being contested, leading to continuous hostilities.
As tensions linger and military operations intensify, the citizens of Engels and Saratov are left to deal with the immediate impact of this latest drone assault while the larger geopolitical landscape remains precarious. The ramifications of such attacks, both regionally and in terms of international relations, will likely unfold in the coming days as dialogues continue amid ongoing military engagements.
