Two Russian nuclear bombers were reportedly damaged today in a suspected drone attack on the airfield where they are based.
The Tu-95 planes - known as Bears - are the only propeller-powered strategic bombers still operational today.
Details were scarce but two servicemen were reported wounded and hospitalised.
Videos showed a huge flash at the high-security airbase in Saratov region used by Vladimir Putin ’s strategic fleet.
There were no reports of nuclear contamination.
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RAF)The early morning “strike”was reported at the Engels-1 airbase in the Saratov region of Russia.
It is around 460 miles from the border with Ukraine.
The Tu-95s have been used for non-nuclear attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks as part of Vladimir Putin’s blitzkrieg on the infrastructure of his neighbouring country.
Recent report said the base was on high alert for a new round of attacks on Ukraine.
Traffic was reported at a standstill near the airfield.
In another unconfirmed attack today, a fuel truck exploded at an airbase near Ryazan, killing three people, and wounding five.
The city is a base for Russian special forces troops. The cause of the Ryazan explosion was not immediately stated.
Firefighters were at the scene. The explosion was strong and heard at a nearby military camp.
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social media/e2w)The super-loud Tu-95, known as Bear, first flew 70 years ago.
Putin has deployed the Tu-95s to buzz Britain at moments of high tension, for example in February this year when the Royal Air Force scrambled Typhoon fighters to escort two Bears off northern Scotland.
Ukrainian official Anton Gerashchenko said: “It is from Engels airbase that the [Russian] fascists launch rocket attacks on Ukraine.
“The airfield is located at a distance of 750 km from the border with Ukraine.”
VCHK Telegram channel said that the Ryazan attack was also probably by drone.
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social media/e2w)“There were explosions at the airfields near Ryazan and Engels [where] there is a strategic aviation airfield. There are dead people.
“There was a drone attack in Engels. In Ryazan, it seems, too.”
Ryazan is about 470 miles from the nearest border with Ukraine.
A resident in Ryazan said: “Everything in my house flew off the shelve. I thought the windows would fly out, horror
“We live not far from the take-off zone.”
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MIKHAIL METZEL/KREMLIN POOL/SPUTNIK/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)Another said: "The blast wave broke the latch on the window and flung it open. You could see a column of smoke and sparks.
“The explosion was a single one, strong. There was no exact sound of something falling before the explosion.
“It looks like a fuel tank explosion to me.”
Marina Orlova said: “I heard it, I woke up. The sound was very bad.”
Russian outlet MK said that the Ryazan fuel tank explosion also led to damage to an aircraft.
Russian news outlet Readovka said both the explosions were at airfields used by Moscow to attack Ukrainian infrastructure.
If confirmed, they are ambitions strikes by Ukraine deep inside Russia.
The Readovksa report confirmed there was damage to two Tu-95MS missile carrying planes.
It questioned whether the Engels attack was launched from Ukraine - or perhaps inside Russia.
“If in the case of the Ryazan region it can be assumed that the UAV was launched from the territory of Ukraine, then there are doubts about Engels.
“With a high degree of probability, the drone [was launched] from our territory, which means that enemy [operatives] have already reached the banks of the Volga River.
“If the drone came from Ukraine, then our enemy already has technology with a range of 1000 km, which means that Moscow could be under attack.
“There is only one conclusion: counter-terrorism measures on the territory of the Russian Federation should be strengthened to the maximum, retaliation strikes should be continued tenfold.
“Until the Russian response has a massive effect, such attacks will continue.”