Bykhau Air Base

The closure was a direct geopolitical and economic consequence of the collapse of the USSR. The newly independent Republic of Belarus inherited the base and its resident strategic assets, including nuclear-capable Tu-22M3 bombers. As part of its commitment to becoming a non-nuclear state (formalized under the Lisbon Protocol and the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances), Belarus agreed to transfer or eliminate its strategic bomber fleet. Many of the Tu-22M3 bombers were flown to Russia, while others were dismantled on-site under the Nunn–Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program. The immense economic cost of maintaining such a large, specialized military facility was also unsustainable for the new Belarusian government, leading to the disbandment of the resident regiment and the base's closure.

The site is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced dereliction. Satellite imagery and ground-level explorations show the massive 3,000-meter runway is cracked, weathered, and heavily overgrown with grass and small trees. Taxiways, hardened aircraft shelters, and aprons are crumbling. Most support buildings, including barracks, command posts, and technical facilities, are in ruins, with many having collapsed roofs. The site is a popular destination for urban explorers and photographers and has been used for unofficial local events like street racing and drifting. It serves no official military, industrial, or aviation purpose.

During the Cold War, Bykhau Air Base was a key strategic installation for the Soviet Long-Range Aviation (Dalnyaya Aviatsiya). It was the home of the 52nd Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, a highly decorated unit. The base was a frontline facility in the strategic standoff with NATO. It hosted several generations of Soviet strategic bombers, including the Tupolev Tu-16 'Badger' and, most notably, the supersonic Tupolev Tu-22M2 and Tu-22M3 'Backfire' bombers. These aircraft were a critical component of the Soviet nuclear deterrent, capable of carrying long-range, nuclear-armed cruise missiles (like the Kh-22) for strikes against high-value targets in Western Europe and for maritime anti-carrier missions.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Bykhau Air Base. The cost to restore the infrastructure to operational standards would be astronomical, requiring a complete rebuild of the runway, taxiways, and all support facilities. Belarus has sufficient active military and civilian airfields for its current needs, and the strategic requirement for a large bomber base no longer exists for the country. While there have been occasional speculative discussions in local media or forums about redeveloping the vast territory for logistics or industry, no concrete projects have ever materialized. The base is expected to remain abandoned for the foreseeable future.