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Three Russian military personnel have been killed by the falling wreckage of a Ukrainian drone after it was shot down over an air base in the Saratov region, south-east of Moscow, the Russian military says.
Key points:
- Russian media reported blasts and the sound of air sirens at Engels air base early on Monday
- It was later confirmed that three technical personnel were killed by falling drone debris.
- The base, south-east of Moscow, was also struck by drones earlier this month
"A Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down at low altitude while approaching the Engels military airfield in the Saratov region," a defence ministry spokesperson told reporters.
"As a result ... three Russian servicemen of the technical staff who were at the airfield were fatally wounded."
Earlier on Monday, Ukrainian and Russian media reported that blasts were heard after midnight at the base, home to strategic bombers, hundreds of kilometres from Ukraine's front line.
"There is absolutely no threat to residents. Civil infrastructure facilities were not damaged," Saratov Regional Governor Roman Busargin said.
"Information about the incident at a military facility is being checked by law enforcement agencies."
The RBC-Ukraine news agency reported two explosions, while Russian news outlet Baza cited residents who heard air raid sirens and an explosion.
On December 5, the same air base was struck by what Russia claimed to be one of two Ukrainian drone attacks on local bases.
Analysts said the strikes damaged Moscow's reputation and raised questions about its defence capabilities.
Ukraine has never publicly claimed responsibility for attacks inside Russia, but has said incidents were "karma" for Russia's invasion in February this year.
Russia beefs up missile systems
Russia's defence ministry has told local media its soldiers are working "round-the-clock" to develop new anti-aircraft missile system positions, to defend itself against Ukrainian strikes.
In a statement by the ministry reported by Interfax news agency, crews trained in the use of the S-300V — a Soviet-built device that can track up to 30 kilometres high and 200 kilometres in range — were "mastering new position areas" of the Russian long-range, surface-to-air missile systems.
"The air defence units of the Western Military District continue to serve in the new position areas on combat duty around the clock," a ministry spokesperson said.
The Western Military District is one of five Russian military zones and includes regions that share a border with Ukraine, like Belgorod and Bryansk as well as the Kaliningrad exclave.
The S-300 air defence missile system was originally developed by the Soviet Union, and is being used by both Russia and Ukraine.
In November, a Soviet-made S-300 rocket believed to have been launched by Ukraine, hit Poland killing two people.
ABC/Reuters