On the 1121st day of war, Ukraine launched the most intense drone attack since the beginning of the war on the cities of Saratov and Engels in Russia.
One of the targeted objectives was the Engels air base, Engels-2, which hosts strategic bombers used in air strikes against Ukraine. Multiple explosions were heard at dawn, followed by a fire.
Additionally, an oil depot in Engels caught fire, and the governor of the region announced that two civilians were injured, and several houses, a school, a kindergarten, and a hospital suffered damages.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 132 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight in seven regions.
On the other hand, Russia launched 171 drones during the night, with most of them being neutralized by the air defense. However, at least ten people, including four children, were injured in the city of Kropyvnytskyi, in the Kirovohrad region.
Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine received additional F-16 aircraft, without specifying their number and origin.
In addition to the new aircraft, Kyiv also has Trump's promise to get involved in repatriating thousands of children believed to have been sent to Russia.
And today, two important meetings begin in Brussels and London, aiming to support Ukraine.
Frontline Situation
- Drone Attack - Russia launched 171 drones last night, and the air defense shot down 75 in 12 regions, while 63 disappeared from radar due to jamming and did not hit their target. The regions of Kirovohrad, Sumy, and Donetsk were affected by the overnight aerial attack, as reported by the Ukrainian Air Force.
- Four Children Injured - At least ten people were injured, including four children, during a night attack by the Russian army on Kropyvnytskyi, a city with 220,000 inhabitants in the Kirovohrad region, as reported by The Kyiv Independent. Several victims were hospitalized, with one in critical condition, suffering burns on 90% of the body surface. Over 20 drones launched on the city during the night hit houses and buildings and damaged the railway infrastructure.
What's Happening in Russia
- Air Base Attacked by Drones - A massive drone attack targeted the cities of Saratov and Engels on Thursday morning, causing a fire at a local air base, as reported by The Kyiv Independent. The governor of Saratov region, Roman Busargin, stated that the cities of Saratov and Engels were subjected to the most intense drone attack since the beginning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, resulting in a fire at a local air base. According to Russian Telegram channels, residents reported an air alert followed by multiple explosions. The Mash channel reported at least four detonations heard around 4:00 am. The nearby Engels-2 military air base hosts strategic bombers used in air strikes against Ukraine. According to the Astra channel, the explosions occurred near this base. Busargin announced the evacuation of residents from the airport area. Additionally, the Shot channel reported a fire at an oil depot in Engels. Russian authorities did not provide details on possible damages to the oil infrastructure. Busargin reported two injured civilians and damages to approximately 30 houses, as well as a school, two kindergartens, and a hospital in Engels. Engels-2 had been previously targeted in attacks, most recently in January when an ammunition depot on the airfield was set on fire following a drone attack.
- Downed Drones - The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that 132 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight, with 54 in the Saratov region, 40 in Voronezh, 22 in Belgorod, and others in the Rostov, Kursk, Lipetsk regions, and in the occupied Crimea.
Other Relevant Information
- Ukraine Receives More F-16s - Ukraine received additional F-16 aircraft, as announced on Wednesday by Volodymyr Zelensky during a video conference, without specifying their number or origin, as reported by AFP. The Kiev leader did not mention where these aircraft came from. During the day, the Russian press claimed that an F-16 jet was shot down in the Sumy region, a claim denied by the Ukrainian Air Force. "Other F-16 aircraft have arrived in Ukraine. The Russians lied that they shot something down there, they didn't shoot down anything. And the good news is that more F-16 aircraft have arrived in Ukraine," Zelensky told reporters during a briefing, according to RBC Ukraine.
- Trump's Promise - American President Donald Trump promised to help Ukraine recover thousands of children believed to have been sent to Russia after the US administration stopped funding a database documenting their whereabouts, as reported by AFP. Trump discussed this issue with Zelensky over the phone, a day after speaking with Putin, who is subject to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court regarding the illegal deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children. "President Trump has promised to work closely with both parties to ensure these children return home," said Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor to the American President, Mike Waltz, in a joint statement. According to the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University (Yale HRL), over 8,400 Ukrainian children have been transferred to 43 centers in Russia or Russian-controlled territories, as well as 13 centers in Belarus. Russia denies any wrongdoing and describes its activities as a humanitarian program for orphan adoption.
- Trump Administration Considers NATO Command - The Pentagon is undergoing significant restructuring of combat commands and army headquarters. One of the plans under consideration involves relinquishing the role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) in NATO - known in military parlance as SACEUR. Details HERE.
- EU Meeting in Brussels - European Union leaders are meeting on Thursday and Friday in Brussels to discuss, among other things, additional support for Ukraine, as reported by dpa. It is not expected that the 27 EU leaders will make far-reaching decisions. However, EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas expressed hope that Ukraine will be promised the purchase of two million artillery ammunition cartridges for its defense against the Russian invasion, after not receiving sufficient support in recent weeks for a military aid initiative worth 20-40 billion euros. The next EU leaders' summit after Thursday's meeting is scheduled for June.
- Heart-Wrenching Testimonies of Ukrainian Prisoners - Russia and Ukraine announced on Wednesday that they conducted an exchange of 175 prisoners, one of the largest exchanges since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion three years ago. One of the released Ukrainian prisoners recounted his captivity in Russia. Details HERE.
- Military Meeting in London - Senior military officials are meeting on Thursday in the United Kingdom as the planning for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine enters an "operational phase," as reported by PA Media/dpa. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to meet with defense planners after announcing over the weekend that military leaders will gather to "implement strong and robust plans to support a peace agreement and ensure the future security of Ukraine." He also signaled a transition to an "operational phase" after confirming Thursday's meeting.
- Russia Accuses Chisinau - The Russian Foreign Ministry stated on Wednesday that the police in the Republic of Moldova violated diplomatic protocol by blocking the entrances to its embassy in Chisinau due to a bomb threat, as reported by Reuters. "Moldovan security forces prevented the Russian ambassador from entering the embassy, and embassy staff, including family members, women, and children, were not allowed to leave. It is quite revealing that the embassy did not receive any notification from the authorities regarding the alleged bomb threat. In Moscow, it is assumed that the Moldovan side will in the future fully respect the provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention (on diplomatic relations)," the Russian Foreign Ministry's statement read. A protest was presented to the Moldovan Ambassador in Moscow, and access to the Russian embassy building in Chisinau was restored. The Chisinau police stated they received a bomb threat at the embassy but made no further comments, as noted by Reuters.