Kobryn Airbase

The airbase was closed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The newly independent Republic of Belarus inherited a vast and expensive military infrastructure that was economically unsustainable. This led to a large-scale military reorganization and downsizing. The aviation regiments stationed at Kobryn were either disbanded or relocated, and the base was deemed surplus to the requirements of the new Belarusian Air Force.

The site is no longer used for any aviation purposes and has been extensively redeveloped. The former runways and taxiways are still visible from satellite imagery, but they are in a state of disrepair. A significant portion of the western part of the airfield, including parts of the main runway, has been converted into a large solar power plant. The eastern area, including former hangars and support buildings, has been repurposed as an industrial and logistics park, hosting various commercial enterprises such as manufacturing and warehousing. The land has been effectively reclaimed for civilian industrial and energy-generation use.

Kobryn Airbase was a significant Soviet Air Force installation during the Cold War, located strategically in the Belarusian Military District, which faced NATO. It primarily hosted fighter and ground-attack aircraft. Key units stationed at the base included:

- **160th Fighter Aviation Regiment (160-й ИАП):** This regiment was a key component of the 26th Air Army. It operated MiG-23MLD 'Flogger-K' fighter aircraft, tasked with air defense and interception missions.

- **397th Separate Assault Aviation Regiment (397-й ОШАП):** Formed in the mid-1980s, this regiment flew the Sukhoi Su-25 'Frogfoot' close air support aircraft. Its role was to provide direct support to Soviet ground forces in the event of a conflict in Europe.

- **Management of the 206th Assault Aviation Division (206-я ШАД):** The headquarters for this ground-attack division was also located at Kobryn.

After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the base and its units were transferred to the jurisdiction of Belarus. However, within a few years, the 160th Fighter Aviation Regiment was disbanded (around 1994), and the 397th Assault Aviation Regiment was relocated to Lida Air Base, leading to the closure of Kobryn as an active military airfield.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Kobryn Airbase for aviation use. The extensive redevelopment of the site with permanent infrastructure, including a large solar farm and an industrial park, makes its conversion back into a functional airport technically difficult and economically unfeasible. The Belarusian military has consolidated its forces at other existing airbases, and there is no stated requirement for reactivating this location.