Ochamchire Airport

The airbase ceased its original operations following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The subsequent Georgian-Abkhazian War (1992-1993) resulted in the facility falling under the control of the de facto Abkhazian authorities, after which it fell into disuse and was effectively abandoned for many years.

The site is currently an active military construction zone under the control of the Russian Armed Forces. Since late 2023, Russia has been developing the area into a permanent naval base for its Black Sea Fleet. This project involves extensive dredging of the port channel to accommodate larger warships and the complete reconstruction of the airfield and its associated infrastructure. Satellite imagery and official reports confirm ongoing construction, indicating the site is being repurposed as a forward operating base for both Russian naval and air assets.

During the Cold War, Ochamchire was a significant Soviet Naval Aviation airbase supporting the Black Sea Fleet. Its primary role was anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and maritime patrol. It was notably home to the 392nd Independent Long-Range Anti-Submarine Aviation Regiment (392 ODRAP), which operated a fleet of Beriev Be-12 'Chaika' (NATO reporting name: Mail) amphibious aircraft. These aircraft were crucial for monitoring NATO naval activity, particularly submarines, in the Black Sea. The base's strategic location provided the Soviet Union with vital operational reach over the entire sea.

There are confirmed plans for the full reopening and reactivation of the airfield, but exclusively for Russian military use. In October 2023, the de facto leader of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, confirmed that an agreement had been signed with Russia to establish a permanent naval base in Ochamchire, which includes the airfield. The prospect is not for a return to civilian or public operations but for its integration into a strategic Russian military installation in the Black Sea region. This development is intended to provide a new, more secure homeport for elements of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.