Flight operations at Russia’s Saratov regional airport resumed on Monday following the lifting of restrictions imposed after a Ukrainian drone attack caused damage to residential areas, injuring a local woman. According to Russian officials and news agencies, the curbs were removed at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time (0530 GMT).
The initial restrictions were enforced after debris from drones intercepted by Russia’s air defense systems fell onto a residential complex in Saratov. The incident, as reported by RIA news agency, left a woman in serious condition, with doctors currently battling to save her life, according to Saratov’s regional governor, Roman Basurgin, who shared updates on the Telegram messaging platform.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that its air defenses successfully neutralised nine drones over the Saratov region. The region is located about 900 kilometers (560 miles) from the Ukrainian border, making it a significant distance from the ongoing conflict zone.
The situation in Saratov and the nearby city of Engels, which is home to a strategic Russian military base, prompted emergency services to deploy across the affected areas. This military base in Engels has been the target of multiple Ukrainian attacks since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022. However, there has been no immediate information regarding any damage to the base itself following this latest incident.
Visual footage shared by the Russian news channel SHOT on Telegram depicted damage to a high-rise residential building in Saratov, with several windows shattered across three floors. Additionally, in Engels, the top floor of another residential building was reportedly damaged.
As of now, the extent of the Ukrainian drone attack on the Saratov region remains unclear, and no official statements have been made by Ukrainian authorities regarding the incident. Both Russia and Ukraine have consistently denied targeting civilians in their military operations, asserting that their attacks focus on key infrastructure crucial to the war effort.
Melissa Enoch
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