On December 5, 2022, explosions rocked two rear airfields – Engels near Saratov and Dyagilevo near Ryazan. At Engels, two strategic Tu-95 bombers used for long-range missile launches against Ukraine were damaged, while at Dyagilevo, a Tu-22M3 bomber and a refueling aircraft were damaged. Later, Ukrainian intelligence reported that modified Soviet Tu-141 Strizh drones were used in the attack. Both airfields are hundreds of kilometers away from the Ukrainian border.
Dyagilevo air base
Ryazan, Ryazan Oblast
1) 43rd Centre for Combat Application and Training of Long Range Aviation Air Crews (unit # – 41521)
Belongs to the Long Range Aviation Command (HQ in Moscow)
Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bombers
Tu-95MS strategic bombers
——–
2) 203rd Aerial Refueling Aircraft Regiment
Belongs to the Long Range Aviation Command (HQ in Moscow)
Il-78M and Il-78 aerial refueling tankers