Kagul Air Base

Geopolitical change and military withdrawal. The base was a Soviet military installation, and its purpose became obsolete with the end of the Cold War and the restoration of Estonia's independence. It was handed over to the Estonian state and subsequently demilitarized.

The site is abandoned and in a state of disrepair, though the main runway, taxiways, and hardened shelters remain largely intact but are decaying. It is not used for any official aviation. The property is occasionally used for non-aviation purposes, including motorsports (e.g., drag racing events), driver training, and military exercises by the Estonian Defence League (Kaitseliit). It is also a popular destination for urban exploration and historical tourism.

The facility, correctly identified by its coordinates as Kogula Airfield (Estonian: Kogula lennuväli), was a strategic Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO) base during the Cold War. The name 'Kagul' is a likely misspelling. Its location on Saaremaa island was crucial for controlling the Baltic Sea airspace. The base hosted fighter regiments, most notably the 655th Fighter Aviation Regiment (655 IAP), which flew interceptor aircraft such as the MiG-23. Constructed in the late 1960s, it featured a 2,500-meter concrete runway and numerous hardened aircraft shelters. The ICAO code 'EE-0007' is a non-standard identifier, as the base did not have a civil ICAO code during its operational period.

There are no official plans or realistic prospects to reopen Kogula as a functional airport. The island of Saaremaa is adequately served by the nearby Kuressaare Airport (IATA: URE, ICAO: EEKE). The prohibitive cost required to renovate the derelict infrastructure, combined with a lack of economic or strategic need for a second airport on the island, makes its reactivation for aviation purposes highly unlikely. Future development proposals have occasionally included alternative uses such as an industrial park or a solar farm.