The authorities of the Engels district of the Saratov region have declared a state of emergency at the municipal level in connection with the attack of unmanned aerial vehicles that occurred on the night of March 20, 2025. This was reported by the head of the district, Maxim Leonov, who emphasized that the decision was made to coordinate actions to eliminate the consequences of the attack. According to him, the state of emergency will allow for the prompt use of all necessary resources and forces to restore order and help the victims.

The attack, which Saratov Region Governor Roman Busargin called the largest of all time, affected both Engels and Saratov. As a result of the strike in Engels, damage was recorded to about 30 private and summer houses in several gardening associations. The debris from the downed drones caused destruction, and in some cases, local residents needed medical assistance. A fire broke out on the territory of the Engels-2 military airfield, which forced the authorities to evacuate residents of nearby SNTs. Firefighters, rescuers and representatives of the regional security department are working at the scene, assessing the scale of the damage and coordinating actions.

The introduction of the state of emergency was a necessary measure, given the strategic importance of the airfield, where Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers used in military operations are based. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, more than 50 drones were destroyed over the Saratov region that night, indicating the high intensity of the attack. Damage to civilian objects was also recorded in Saratov, including broken windows in a hospital and several educational institutions, but, according to preliminary data, there were no casualties.

The aftermath of the raid required an immediate response from the authorities. The region's emergency services have been put on high alert, and the Engels District Administration has begun collecting information about the victims and damage to provide financial support.

This incident was a continuation of a series of attacks on the Saratov region in 2025. In early January, the region had already experienced a drone attack, which resulted in an oil depot in Engels catching fire. Then the fire took the lives of two Emergencies Ministry employees, and the state of emergency was in effect until January 27, until the consequences were eliminated, Interfax reports.

According to Telegram channels, air defense systems were operating over the region on the night of March 20, which allowed most of the drones to be shot down, but some of the debris still reached the ground, causing destruction. Experts associate the increased frequency of attacks with attempts to damage military infrastructure, given the proximity of Engels to the air base, which remains one of the key ones in Russia.