Krichev Air Base

The air base was closed as a direct result of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The primary unit stationed there, the 28th Fighter Aviation Regiment, was disbanded in 1993. The newly independent Republic of Belarus undertook a massive downsizing of the vast Soviet military forces inherited on its territory. This was driven by severe economic constraints, a new national military doctrine, and the high operational costs associated with the advanced aircraft at the base, particularly the MiG-25 interceptors.

The air base is closed, abandoned, and in a state of severe decay. Satellite imagery confirms that the main runway, extensive taxiway system, and dispersed aircraft revetments (hardstands) are still visible but are crumbling and overgrown with vegetation. Most of the technical and administrative buildings are derelict, with many having been stripped for materials or collapsed over time. The site is not used for any aviation purposes and serves as a relic of the Cold War. It is completely non-operational.

Krichev Air Base was a significant strategic asset for the Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO) during the Cold War. Its location in the Byelorussian SSR placed it on the front line against potential NATO air intrusions from the west.

- **Primary Unit:** The base was home to the 28th Fighter Aviation Regiment (28 IAP).
- **Aircraft Operated:** The regiment was notable for being one of the first operational units to be equipped with the formidable Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25P and later the upgraded MiG-25PDS 'Foxbat' interceptor. This aircraft was one of the fastest military jets ever to enter service, designed to intercept high-altitude, high-speed targets like the American SR-71 Blackbird and B-70 Valkyrie bomber (which was never deployed operationally).
- **Strategic Role:** The base's primary mission was air defense, forming a crucial part of the USSR's western air defense shield. The pilots and aircraft at Krichev were on constant alert to scramble and intercept any unidentified or hostile aircraft approaching Soviet airspace.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Krichev Air Base. The infrastructure has deteriorated to a point where reactivation would require a complete and prohibitively expensive reconstruction of the runway, taxiways, and support facilities. The Belarusian Air Force maintains a smaller, more modern force structure concentrated at a few well-maintained airfields. Given the cost and the availability of other, better-preserved reserve airfields, the reopening of Krichev is considered highly unlikely.