Ukrainian drone approaching Engels military airfield shot down, says Russia

Russia says a Ukrainian drone approaching a military base in the country has been shot down.

In a statement on Monday, Russia’s defence ministry said the military foiled the attack, adding that the debris from the wreckage killed three officers.

“On December 26, at about 01:35 Moscow time, a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down at low altitude while approaching the Engels military airfield in the Saratov region,” the statement reads.

“As a result of the fall of the wreckage of the drone, three Russian servicemen of the technical staff who were at the airfield were fatally wounded.”

Roman Busargin, governor of the Saratov region, said aviation equipment and other civil infrastructure facilities were not damaged in the incident.

Although the airbase, near the city of Saratov, sits far from the frontline of Russia’s war with Ukraine, it was also hit by a drone strike on December 5.

Russia blamed Ukraine for the attack.

Ukraine has never publicly claimed responsibility for attacks inside Russia but has described such incidents are “karma” for Russia’s invasion.

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, had said he was open to negotiations to end the war.

However, shortly after his call, Russia reportedly launched more rocket attacks in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine and shelled more than 25 towns along the Kupiansk-Lyman frontline on Christmas day.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has said Russia’s call for negotiations was an attempt to dodge responsibility for the war.