Bobrovichi Air Base

The closure was a direct consequence of the collapse of the Soviet Union. The primary reasons include:
1) **Military Restructuring:** The newly independent Republic of Belarus had no strategic doctrine or requirement for a long-range strategic bomber force.
2) **Economic Factors:** The immense cost of maintaining and operating the sophisticated Tupolev Tu-22M3 'Backfire' bombers and the large base infrastructure was prohibitive for the new nation's economy.
3) **International Disarmament Treaties:** Under agreements like the Lisbon Protocol to the START I treaty and the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, Belarus committed to becoming a non-nuclear state and reducing its inherited conventional forces. This led to the strategic bombers being transferred to the Russian Federation.

The air base is completely abandoned and in a state of severe decay. The main runway, extensive taxiways, and dozens of aircraft revetments (hardstands) are still visible from satellite imagery but are crumbling, heavily weathered, and being reclaimed by forest and vegetation. Many of the concrete slabs from the airfield have reportedly been dismantled over the years by locals for use in construction. The garrison buildings, hangars, and support facilities are derelict, looted, and collapsing. The site has no official function and is effectively a military ruin, sometimes visited by urban explorers.

Bobrovichi was a key strategic air base for the Soviet Long-Range Aviation (Dalnyaya Aviatsiya) during the Cold War. Its primary historical importance is tied to hosting the **200th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (200 Gv TBAP)**.

- **Operations:** This elite regiment initially flew Tupolev Tu-16 'Badger' bombers before being re-equipped with the supersonic, variable-sweep wing **Tupolev Tu-22M2 and later the Tu-22M3 'Backfire'** strategic bombers. These aircraft were a core part of the Soviet nuclear triad, capable of delivering nuclear and conventional payloads over long distances, posing a significant threat to NATO forces in Europe and beyond.

- **Chernobyl Disaster:** The base and its crews played a crucial and dangerous role in the immediate aftermath of the **Chernobyl nuclear disaster in April 1986**. Due to its relative proximity, crews from Bobrovichi were among the first to fly reconnaissance missions over the exposed reactor core to assess the damage. They subsequently participated in the 'liquidation' efforts, flying hazardous missions to drop materials into the reactor to control the fire and radiation release.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening or reactivating Bobrovichi Air Base. The entire infrastructure, including the runway, taxiways, and buildings, is beyond economic repair and would require complete demolition and reconstruction. The Belarusian Air Force operates from a smaller number of well-maintained airfields and has no strategic or financial incentive to rebuild this massive Cold War-era facility. The site is considered permanently closed.