Ukraine hits Engels-2 bomber as Moscow confronts budget strain and mobilization questions
ISW assessments highlight Ukraine’s strike on Russia’s Engels-2 airbase Tu-95MS bomber, showing Kyiv’s ability to hit deep rear targets, while Moscow faces a 5.5 trillion-ruble April budget shortfall and austerity measures ahead of September elections, fueling concerns about mobilization. Russia continues long-range tests of ICBMs and touts an EW system to disrupt Starlink, though its effectiveness is limited by cost and range. Ukraine is pressuring Russia’s energy sector with repeated refinery strikes, contributing to lower Russian refining output and gasoline shortages, as Belarusian leader Lukashenko and Putin discuss deeper cooperation. On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces conduct limited advances and counterattacks across multiple fronts, and Russia maintains pressure with energy-targeted strikes and drone campaigns (164 launched, 137 intercepted).