The Russian defense ministry says three military personnel were killed in a drone attack by Ukrainian forces on an airbase in southern Russia. It was the second attack on the Engels airbase in the Saratov region this month, apparently by Ukraine.

The ministry announced the air raid through Russian news agencies. It said an unmanned Ukrainian aerial vehicle was shot down, but that "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." The ministry added that no aircraft were damaged in the attack.

Ukrainian and local Russian media reported on Monday that two explosions took place at the airbase early in the morning on the day. Firefighters reportedly rushed to the scene as air-raid sirens wailed.

The governor of the Saratov region said in a social media post that officials were checking information about an incident at a military facility. The governor added that there were no emergencies in residential areas and that civil infrastructure facilities were not damaged.

A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force suggested the nation's involvement in the latest attack. The person told local media, "These are the consequences of Russian aggression."

The Engels airbase is one of Russia's key operating bases where a number of strategic bombers are deployed. The base reportedly came under a drone attack on December 5. Independent Russian media said two Tupolev-95 long-range bombers were damaged in the attack.

Kremlin watchers say President Vladimir Putin's administration appears to be taking the repeated air strikes seriously, as it is tightening vigilance against Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory.