--- title: "Zelensky Claims Tu-95MS Strategic Bomber Destroyed at Engels and Oil Refinery in Yaroslavl" description: "Zelensky claimed the SBU destroyed a Tu-95MS strategic bomber at the Engels airfield and an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, 1,000 km from the front. Some details, including photos of the damaged airframe, require verification." date: 2026-08-28T09:16:03.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-hits-tu-95ms-and-oil-refinery-in-yaroslavl tags: [ukraine, russia, tu-95ms, engels, oil-refinery, sbu, zelensky, war] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Zelensky Claims Tu-95MS Strategic Bomber Destroyed at Engels and Oil Refinery in Yaroslavl ![Russian Tu-95MS strategic bomber in flight — the aircraft type Zelensky claimed was hit at Engels airbase](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/28/ukraina-porazila-tu-95ms-i-npz-v-yaroslavle/ukraina-porazila-tu-95ms-i-npz-v-yaroslavle-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Zelensky claimed the SBU hit a Tu-95MS at the Engels airfield and an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, 1,000 km from the front - Strikes on refineries continue: NORSI in Kstovo and the Afipsky refinery were previously attacked - A circulated photo shows a Tu-95MS in flight, contradicting the version of a ground destruction — the data require verification Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that over the past 24 hours, the Defense Forces struck an oil refinery in Russia's Yaroslavl region, located approximately 1,000 kilometers from the front line, as well as targets in the Black Sea. According to him, operatives of the SBU's "Alpha" special unit hit a Russian Tu-95MS strategic bomber at the airfield in Engels — it is precisely such aircraft, the head of state emphasized, that carry out strikes on Ukrainian territory. The statement came against the backdrop of a series of attacks on Russia's oil refining infrastructure, as reported by Ukrainian and Russian media. ### Strike on a Strategic Bomber at Engels According to Zelensky's statement, the target in Engels is a Tu-95MS strategic bomber-carrying aircraft based at the "Engels-2" airfield near Saratov. The president called the destruction of the aircraft a "just response" to Russian strikes and thanked the military for their "accuracy." On the night of August 28, photographs circulated online that, according to several Telegram channels, allegedly show the damaged aircraft on the ground; however, their authenticity and correspondence to the claimed event require separate verification. ### Attack on the Oil Refining Sector In parallel with the strike on aviation infrastructure, Zelensky reported that the "Slavneft-YANOS" refinery in Yaroslavl was hit. This continues a series of attacks on Russia's fuel and energy sector: on August 26, following a strike by a Ukrainian drone, the "LUKOIL-Nizhnekamsknefteorgsintez" (NORSI) refinery in Kstovo halted crude oil processing, while in the Krasnodar region drones attacked the Afipsky refinery, where, according to reports, a unit for the co-processing of gas and gas condensate caught fire. The totality of these incidents points to a consistent line in Ukraine's strategy of striking deep into the enemy's rear. ### Contradictory Data The parties' accounts of the strike on the Tu-95MS diverge. On the one hand, Zelensky and a number of Ukrainian outlets report the bomber was hit on the ground, and some sources cite satellite images that allegedly record damage to the aircraft at the airfield. On the other hand, a widely circulated image shows a Tu-95MS in flight, visually undamaged, with an intact fuselage and running propellers — which is inconsistent with the narrative of a plane shot down on the ground. The Russian side has officially neither confirmed nor denied the destruction of a specific airframe. Thus, pending independent verification of satellite and photographic evidence, the status of the event remains not fully established. ### Context and Significance Regardless of the degree of confirmation of individual details, Kyiv's statements reflect an attempt to expand the geography of strikes to strategic aviation and oil refining facilities located hundreds and thousands of kilometers from the front. The destruction, even partial, of such targets as the "Engels-2" airfield or major refineries carries not only military but also symbolic significance, as it touches elements previously considered out of reach. Further developments will depend on whether independent observers and satellite imagery can confirm or refute the claimed results of the strikes. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [SBU hit a Tu-95MS bomber in Engels that was striking Ukraine, - Zelensky](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/sbu-urazila-engelsi-raketonosiy-tu-95ms-kiy-1787907903.html) - Первичное заявление Зеленского об ударе по Ту-95МС и НПЗ в Ярославском регионе. - [Tu-95MS cruise missile carrier hit at Russian airbase near Saratov, — Zelensky](https://ukranews.com/news/1171607-nositel-krylatyh-raket-tu-95ms-podvergsya-udaru-na-rossijskoj-aviabaze-vblizi-saratova-zelenskij) - Подтверждает локализацию удара под Саратовом (Энгельс) по версии Зеленского. - [Tu-95MS aircraft hit in Engels - Zelensky](https://korrespondent.net/ukraine/4906957-v-enhelse-porazhen-samolet-tu-95ms-zelenskyi) - Ретрансляция заявления о поражении Ту-95МС в Энгельсе. - [Satellite images confirm the destruction of a Tu-95MS strategic bomber at ...](https://theins.ru/news/296524) - Ссылается на спутниковые снимки повреждений, однако противоречит визуальному виду борта в полете на распространяемом фото. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What did Zelensky say about the strike in Engels? **A:** He stated that the SBU's "Alpha" special unit hit a Tu-95MS strategic bomber at the Engels airfield, which, according to him, is used to carry out strikes on Ukraine. ### Q: Which refinery was hit in the Yaroslavl region? **A:** According to Zelensky and Ukrainian media, the strike was carried out against the "Slavneft-YANOS" refinery in Yaroslavl, roughly 1,000 km from the front line. ### Q: Has the destruction of the Tu-95MS been independently confirmed? **A:** The Russian side has not confirmed the fact. Some sources cite satellite images, however, a circulated photo shows the airframe in flight, which creates a contradiction between the versions.