Andreapol Air Base

The closure was a direct result of the large-scale 2008-2010 Russian military reforms. These reforms were aimed at modernizing and streamlining the armed forces by consolidating personnel and equipment from numerous smaller Soviet-era installations into fewer, larger, and more capable air bases. This was driven by a combination of strategic reorganization to create a more mobile force and significant economic pressures that made maintaining a vast network of Cold War-era bases unsustainable.

The air base is currently abandoned and non-operational. Satellite imagery confirms that the main runway, extensive taxiways, and dozens of hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) remain, but they are in a state of severe decay. The concrete surfaces are cracked and heavily overgrown with grass and shrubs. The support buildings and technical areas appear derelict. The site is not used for any active aviation purposes and stands as a relic of Soviet military power. While likely still state property, it is effectively a ghost facility.

Andreapol Air Base was a crucial element of the Soviet Union's air defense network during the Cold War. Its strategic location placed it within the elite Moscow Air Defence District, responsible for protecting the capital and the Central Industrial Region from a potential NATO air attack from the west. The base was home to the 28th Guards Fighter Aviation Leningrad Order of Kutuzov Regiment (28 GvIAP). This regiment operated advanced interceptor aircraft, including the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23P 'Flogger-G' throughout the 1980s. In the early 1990s, it was one of the first units to be re-equipped with the modern 4th-generation Mikoyan MiG-29 'Fulcrum' fighter jet. The base's primary mission was to be on high alert to scramble and intercept incoming enemy bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, and cruise missiles.

There are no known official plans or credible reports suggesting any prospect of reopening Andreapol Air Base. The cost to restore the heavily deteriorated runway, taxiways, and support infrastructure would be substantial. The Russian Air Force has consolidated its assets at other operational bases in the region, such as Khotilovo-2. Given these factors, the reactivation of Andreapol is considered highly unlikely in the foreseeable future.