The Russian Federation has initiated extensive construction of protective hangars at the strategic “Engels” airfield. Satellite imagery has revealed at least 17 new shelters for bombers.
![Protective hangars are being built at the "Engels" airfield](/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/83b98f18c8341c976ae6aee38acbf29e.jpg "Protective hangars are being built at the "Engels" airfield")
Protective hangars are being constructed at the “Engels” airfield / Photo: PLANET LABS
Extensive construction work is underway at the “Engels” military airfield in the Saratov region of the Russian Federation, focusing on the erection of protective structures for long-range aviation aircraft. This is evidenced by recent satellite imagery from Planet Labs, which has come into the possession of The War Zone journalists.
This is reported by Times of India.
Russia is constructing protective facilities for aircraft
As of June 20th, at least 17 large hangar shelters are under construction at the site. The “Engels” airfield, situated on the banks of the Volga River, is a critical strategic asset for the Russian Federation. It is from this base that most of the bombers launching attacks on Ukrainian cities depart.
For decades, both during the Cold War and in the post-Soviet era, Moscow has fundamentally kept its strategic aviation in open areas. This practice was dictated by the requirements of international transparency and arms control agreements between the USA and the USSR.
According to the Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty signed in 1991, both sides committed not to employ camouflage and concealment measures that could impede the verification of equipment numbers.
Consequently, strategic bombers, unlike lighter tactical aircraft, were always positioned in open bays. However, the emergence of long-range drones in Ukraine has significantly complicated the situation for Russia. Russia is gradually running out of safe rear areas, meaning its aircraft can be destroyed by drones or missiles at any moment.
The vulnerability of airfields was clearly demonstrated by Operation “Spiderweb”, conducted by the SBU on June 1, 2025. At that time, drones, secretly transported into the Russian Federation, struck several long-range aviation bases. Satellite images taken after the attack confirmed significant damage to a number of aircraft, including Tu-95MS missile carriers.
According to the analytical center Global Military, the Russian army currently possesses a limited number of such aircraft: approximately 47 Tu-95MS units, 55 Tu-22M3 units, and only 18 Tu-160 units.
The Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 modifications are legacies of the Soviet defense industry. Their serial production ceased long ago, making each loss irreversible for Russia. Russia can only produce new Tu-160s, but this process takes years.
For the Russian Federation, preserving the remaining strategic aviation fleet has become a paramount necessity. Therefore, the construction of protective hangars signifies a shift in the entire concept of strategic deterrence.
Ukraine is “breaching” rear areas deep within the Russian Federation — latest news
It is worth noting that the Kremlin no longer conceals its alarm over Ukraine’s unprecedented attacks on Moscow. According to Russian Foreign Ministry representative Rodion Miroshnik, last week the main impact was felt in the southeast of Moscow and the Moscow Oblast.
Furthermore, the representative of the aggressor country also mentioned strikes on Russian military targets in Crimea. He complained that Kyiv continues to expand the geographical scope of its massive shelling of Russian regions.
According to a recent report by the Institute for the Study of War, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have significantly expanded the radius and density of strikes on occupying forces’ positions. In May and June 2026, the Armed Forces of Ukraine substantially increased the depth of attacks on enemy rear installations, hitting at least 500 military vehicles.
Concurrently, the focus of massive shelling has shifted westward, towards occupied Kherson and Crimea, alongside the systematic targeting of nearby rear areas in Donetsk Oblast.
The long-range strike campaign against oil infrastructure and airfields within the Russian Federation is actively developing: 18 such attacks were carried out in April, 33 in May, and 28 in June. Additionally, the latest Ukrainian “Fire Point” drones have successfully hit targets at distances up to 2070 kilometers.
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