Ezere Airfield

Military abandonment following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The airfield was a Soviet Air Force base, and it was vacated upon the withdrawal of Russian (formerly Soviet) troops from the newly independent Republic of Latvia. The Latvian government had no military or economic need for such a large, specialized airbase and lacked the resources to maintain it.

The airfield is completely abandoned and in a state of significant decay. The main runway, taxiways, and dispersal areas are still visible but are heavily weathered, cracked, and being reclaimed by nature with grass and trees growing through the concrete. The numerous hardened aircraft shelters are empty and derelict. The site is not officially used for any purpose and is considered a 'brownfield' site. It is sometimes explored by urban explorers and military history enthusiasts. Some adjacent land may be used for agriculture or forestry, but the core airfield infrastructure is unused and deteriorating.

Ezere Airfield was a significant forward operating base for the Soviet Air Force during the Cold War. Its primary purpose was to house strike aircraft capable of targeting NATO forces in Western Europe. The base was home to the 54th Guards Kerchensky Red Banner Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (54-й гвардейский Керченский Краснознамённый авиационный полк истребителей-бомбардировщиков). This regiment operated MiG-23BN aircraft before transitioning to the more advanced MiG-27K and MiG-27M 'Flogger' variable-sweep ground-attack aircraft. As part of the 15th Air Army of the Baltic Military District, Ezere was a key strategic asset, featuring a long concrete runway and dozens of hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) dispersed in the surrounding forests to protect aircraft from a potential first strike.

There are no known or credible plans to reopen Ezere Airfield. The cost of restoring the runway, taxiways, and support infrastructure to modern aviation standards would be prohibitive. Furthermore, its remote location and the lack of any commercial or strategic demand for an airport in this specific area make any prospect of reopening as an aviation facility extremely unlikely. The site remains a relic of the Cold War era.