Vladimir Putin lost hundreds of millions of pounds worth of cruise missiles in a devastating Ukrainian strike on an airbase warehouse, Kyiv claimed today. Ukraine alleged that 96 cruise missiles exploded in the devastating strike at Engels-2 airbase carried out last week.

It was previously reported that Kh-101 and Kh-555 cruise missiles were stored at the base. If so, the range of losses to the Putin war machine could be between £450million and £820million - a staggering amount, leaving aside the cost of replacing the missing air-launched missiles. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said today: “According to the updated information, as a result of the strike [on] Engels-2 on 20 March 2025, the enemy lost 96 air-launched cruise missiles, in particular, as a result of secondary detonation.

“These weapons were designed to deliver three missile strikes during March-April of this year."

Engels-2 is home to Putin’s strategic nuclear Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers, which have been used to unleash Kh-101 and Kh-555 cruise missiles on Ukraine during the war.

Footage showed towering flames and a giant mushroom cloud when the airbase storage base was struck.

After the detonation, debris reportedly scattered more than three miles from the exploding missiles.

Explosions continued for several days.

Russia has not commented on alleged missile losses.

In the wake of the strike, Russia has mainly used drones, not cruise missiles, to attack Ukraine.

British defence intelligence said two days ago that the strike was Ukraine’s most successful targeting of Russian munitions so far this year.

The base - some 375 miles from the nearest Ukrainian-controlled territory - was hit by long-range drones.