The name of this airbase emerges in Ukrainian news every time Russian strategic aviation takes off from there, triggering air alerts in Ukraine. "Engels-2" is one of Russia's most significant military airbases in the Saratov region, approximately 900 kilometres from Kharkiv. It hosts Tu-160 and Tu-95MS bombers.
As of 2021, this is the sole base for Russian Tu-160 aircraft. According to various military experts, Russia has only 16 of these planes remaining, and information about them is closely guarded and concealed, just like the pilots and technicians who service these aircraft. The "Engels-2" airbase has already faced several drone attacks, after which the Russians relocated the plane to another base, painting several Tu-95s on the runway in Engels.
Analysts from the Molfar agency have identified personnel from the "Engels-2" airbase, including those directly involved in bombing Ukrainian cities: colonels, chief of staff officers, pilots, and even mechanics on these aircraft.
Russian missiles attack — originating from 'Engels-2' airfield
Pilots of these aircraft have launched over 300 rockets since December 2022. Of course, this is only an approximate number, but we know exactly when and where they fired them. Most frequently, they target Ukraine with Kh-101 and Kh-555 missiles.
December 16, 2022: the attack and the power outage as a result
One of the most intense bombardments occurred when the Russians launched 74 missiles. The air raid lasted for 4 hours. As a result of the bombardment, the Russians damaged nine infrastructure facilities, leading to restrictions on nuclear power production. This left over 1600 settlements without electricity, affecting 1,279,000 subscribers.
Due to rocket attacks from Russia, the Kyiv metro stopped working as a transport and stations functioned as shelters.
August 6 — 57 missiles over Ukraine
On the night of August 6 this year, Russian military forces launched a massive assault on Ukraine using cruise missiles and various rockets. Pilots from the "Engels-2" airbase fired "cruise" missiles of the types Kh-101 and Kh-555 from the Caspian Sea, carried by Tu-95MS aircraft. Ukrainian air defense forces managed to intercept and destroy 13 of these missiles. Overall, that night, the enemy unleashed a barrage of rocket attacks, using 70 missiles of various types over several minutes.
September 21. Mass attack to Kyiv
Ten Tu-95MS aircraft took off from the "Engels-2" airbase. Overnight, they launched Kh-101 and Kh-555 missiles from the Caspian Sea. Numerous districts of the capital were affected, leading to occasional power outages. Additionally, seven people were injured, with three of them hospitalized. As a result of this missile strike, private homes and vehicles in the Kyiv region were damaged. Ukraine's air defense forces successfully intercepted more than 20 aerial targets, and 44 cruise missiles were detected. Among them, 10 were explicitly launched from the aircraft that took off from Engels.
The importance of “Engels -2” for Russia
The "Engels-2" airbase is located near the city of the same name, Engels, in Russia. It is one of the largest military aviation bases in the Russian Federation, serving as a home base for strategic bombers, including the Tu-160 (NATO classification: Blackjack). The Tu-160 is a supersonic strategic bomber with a variable-sweep wing design and is the largest bomber in the world. It is capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads. The Tu-95MS (NATO classification: Bear) is a turboprop strategic bomber that can also carry nuclear payloads.
Both of these bombers serve as platforms for carrying missiles such as the Kh-22 (anti-ship missiles), Kh-101/Kh-102 (the latter for nuclear weapons), and Kh-55 (cruise missiles with a range of up to 2500 km). The Tu-95MS and Tu-160 differ in their design, technical specifications, and usage: the Tu-95MS, with its turboprop engines, is suitable for long-duration patrol and reconnaissance missions, while the Tu-160, with its supersonic speed and variable-sweep wings, is capable of conducting rapid and precise strikes, carrying a large quantity of high-precision weaponry.
Typically, the Tu-95MS can carry up to 6 Kh-55 or Kh-101/102 cruise missiles on external hard points. In contrast, the Tu-160 can carry up to 12 missiles in two internal weapons bays.
It's important to note the nuclear role of these aircraft. The "Engels-2" airbase is part of Russia's so-called "nuclear triad." Additionally, it can be used for testing and developing new types of aircraft and aviation equipment. "Engels-2" has the necessary infrastructure to service large and heavy aircraft.
Moreover, as Russians wrote on social media in 2018, an airshow took place in Engels. The same Tu-95MS aircraft were showcased at the event.
The geographical positioning of the "Engels-2" airbase makes it a crucial strategic asset for Russia in the context of a full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war
Inside the “Engels-2” airbase: the personal data of employees
Now, let's take a closer look at the individuals involved in the Russian military aggression against Ukraine in the context of their service at Engels. Molfar analysts have successfully identified 73 personnel from the "Engels-2" airbase.
Simonenko Alexander — a regiment commander, a colonel
Alexander Simonenko is the head of flight commander training for Tu-95MS. He graduated from the Balashov Higher Military Aviation School. In 2012, he flew on Tu-95 over the Pacific Ocean near Japan, presumably from the "Ukrainka" airbase.
He participated in military actions at the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine (1, 2). In 2020, he attended the dedication of young army members in Engels. In the same year, Simonenko served as a commander in military unit 85927 and filed a lawsuit with the Military Garrison Court of Saratov Oblast against one of his subordinates, Alex Gann. The details and reasons for this lawsuit are unknown. However, in June 2022, Simonenko filed a lawsuit against him in Belgorod as the commander of military unit 75715 (located at the "Ukrainka" airbase). This lawsuit resulted in Simonenko receiving compensation for the damage caused.*
Date of birth: 28.02.1978
Phone: 79146118930, 79146169297
Skype: alexander160709
Personal number: U-804172
Social Security Number: 644009204311
SNILS: 16488511501
Known passwords: 070707, miwa070707, COiEadVc, 250275
Batrakov Aleksandr — a chief of staff
Member of the "Boevoe bratstvo" association, a veteran of combat operations in the North Caucasus. From 1989 to 1994, he studied at the Engels Higher Anti-Aircraft Missile Command School. From 2012 to 2014, he was registered as an individual entrepreneur with the primary type of activity — "retail trade in specialized stores." As of 2022, he was on the list of debtors with a debt amount of 1.5k rubles.
Date of birth: 06.10.1972
Telegram: 79272249232
TG ID: 1314081809
Social networks: OK
Passport: 6399181070
SNILS: 134-287-110 45
Personal identification number: 644985444389
Address: Saratov Region, Engels, St. Leningradska, bldg. 35, sq. 21
Kapsha Trofim — a colonel
Kapsha is currently the Acting Commander of the unit and Acting Chief of the Engels Air Base. He serves as the Deputy Commander of the Engels Long-Range Aviation Unit. Born in Ulyanovsk into a military pilot's family, he graduated from the Balashov Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots (which became the Krasnodar VVAUL faculty in 2002). Afterward, he served as a lieutenant in the Amur Region at the "Ukrainka" airfield. He later served in Tambov at the 1449th Aviation Base, a long-range aviation base (1, 2). In 2013, he completed the Command Faculty of the Voronezh Military Aviation Academy.
As of 2014, he served in Engels and was the commander of the crew of the Tu-95MS "Izborsk." In September of the same year, he illegally visited Crimea, annexed by Russia.
In May 2015, he participated in the "Victory Parade" on Red Square as the commander of the Tu-95MS group. He served as the squadron commander, participated in combat operations in Syria, held the rank of colonel, and reported on the process directly to Putin. In 2019, he was the commander of one of the VBAAP (Military Construction Aviation Regiment) garrisons at "Ukrainka." As of October 2021, he was the Unit's Acting Commander, held the rank of Guard Colonel, and participated in organizing joint exercises of long-range aviation units from the Saratov, Kaluga, and Murmansk regions. Presumably, he was transferred to service in Engels that month. He was mentioned in the news as the Acting Chief of the Engels Air Base, as well as the Deputy Commander of the Engels Long-Range Aviation Unit (1, 2).
Date of birth: 22.02.1978
Social networks: Mamba, VK 1, VK 2, FB
Skype: live:70e36828a456b864
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Phone: 79198303747, 79108582931
Personal number: U-804152
Record number: 1172288
Alexander uses the password "meinkampf1488" and is also a user of the site sexclub.ru.
Address: Saratov Region, Engels, st. Odesa, bldg. 83, sq. 109
Pechkarov Alexey — a pilot of Tu-95MS "Izbor"
Pechkarov is a pilot of Tu-95MS "Izbor," aircraft number 27 "red," and holds the rank of major. He was born in Melitopol, Zaporizhia region, Ukraine, and obtained Russian citizenship. In 2013, he was awarded a certificate of merit from the mayor of Engels. According to Informnapalm, he participated in the war in Syria in 2015.
In 2022, Alexey was the commander of the 22nd squadron of the 22nd battalion and was listed as a participant in hostilities. He gave a speech at the concert "Svoikh ne brasayem" (Russian: "Своих не бросаем." English: "We don't leave our own behind"), dedicated to deceased Russians. He received a salary from military unit 85927 in 2018-2021, where conscripts serve. For example, in 2021, he received $1.46k. Presumably, he was temporarily transferred to service in the Far East. He posted advertisements with the location of Seryshevo, a village in the Amur region near the "Ukrainka" airfield, where Tu-95MS aircraft are also based.
Please note that the translation includes the information as provided, but some details might be subject to verification or clarification.
Address: Saratov region. m. Engels-1. building 82. sq. 23
Date of birth: 30.11.1973
Skype: alexpechkarev,
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 79173063868, 79878026797
Passport: 6318 558133
SNILS: 143-573-189 66
Personal identification number: 644913279249
Known passwords: alex_0698, DA_71394, DA_713941973.
In 2021, he registered a Peugeot 3008 2012 car, Х375ОВ64. Before that, in 2019, he violated traffic rules — and exceeded the speed limit, for which he received a fine.
Address: Saratov region, Engels-1, bldg. 82, sq. 23
Stegachyov Oleg — pilot of Tu-95MS "Vorkuta”
Stegachev is a TU-95MS Vorkuta pilot, a member of the military unit 06987, who took part in the operations of Russian troops in Syria. He was responsible for 11 aircrew members in 2012-2014, but did not receive a bonus for the position of commander, which is why he sued his military unit. The court ruled to satisfy the claim.
Address: Saratov region. Engels. St. Petrovska. building 90. sq. 68
In 2019, he was registered at military unit 15489, Seryshevo-2.
Date of birth: 23.06.1983
TG_ID: 1780897846,
Social networks: Mamba, VK, Ok,
Skype: live:f257843bbb36706f
Email: [email protected],
Phone: 79873016928
Passport: 6800 083157, 6304 234410
SNILS: 194-214-437 66
Known passwords: 14021987, cyAEOX.
Owned a Toyota Corolla vehicle, AV197T64.
Dorofeyev Ivan — a pilot of Tu-95MS "Murmansk"
He graduated from the Balashov Military Aviation Institute. In 2021, he was one of the pilots of the Tu-95MS "Murmansk" (RF-94130), which participated in the "Victory Parade" in Moscow. He is listed on the "Peacemaker" website as a participant in the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He served in the military unit, 15499 at the "Ukrainka" airfield.
Address: Engels, Saratov region. St. Engels-1. building 175
Email: [email protected],
Phone: 79145742427, 79143854948
Passport: 6303 604649
SNILS: 057-307-571 64
Personal identification number: 262508443465
Personal number: F-891149
Record number: 1171987
Manyagin Alexander — a commander of the Tu-95MS squadron
According to the leaked information from the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), there were plans to relocate his crew to Belarus to carry out strikes on Ukrainian territory. He is listed in the "Myrotvorets" database as a participant in the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In 2018, he was associated with the military unit 24755. That same year, he was mentioned in an article as a lieutenant colonel and a squadron commander at the "Engels-2" airbase.
Date of birth: 10/21/1981
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 79145541118, 79140462654
This is only a part of the identified military personnel from the Engels airbase, as identified by Molfar's analysts. For personal information about the rest of the identified occupants, please read on our "Enemies of Ukraine" page.
The certainty of punishment
These pilots, crew members, and commanders – all of them are involved in international war crimes (1, 2) as they are implicated in strikes against residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.
The actions of the individuals discussed in this article may and should be recognized as crimes against humanity or genocide against the Ukrainian people. That's why these people should be recognized as international criminals. They, and everyone who carries out these attacks against Ukraine, must understand that punishment is inevitable.
Recent events indicate that the crimes of these individuals will not go unnoticed. The media reports (1, 2), that on the buildings where the families of the personnel of Engels-2 airbase reside, inscriptions have appeared saying, "Here lives the family of a killer." This indicates that even in Russia, they understand the guilt of these individuals and the gravity of their crimes.
