Khariusny Air Base (closed)

The air base was closed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Its closure was part of the large-scale military restructuring and downsizing of the Russian Armed Forces during the 1990s. The specific fighter regiment stationed there was disbanded, and the base was deemed no longer strategically necessary in the post-Cold War environment, leading to its abandonment.

The air base is completely abandoned and in a state of severe decay. Satellite imagery shows a single concrete runway (approximately 2500 meters long), taxiways, and numerous aircraft revetments, all of which are crumbling and being reclaimed by nature. The foundations of former barracks and technical buildings are visible, but the structures themselves have been dismantled or have collapsed. The site is inaccessible and not used for any official purpose. It stands as a relic of the Cold War military presence in the Arctic.

Khariusny Air Base, also known as Umbozero Airfield, was a significant forward operating base for the Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO) during the Cold War. Its strategic location on the Kola Peninsula was critical for defending the northern approaches to the Soviet Union, particularly the vital naval bases of the Northern Fleet in Murmansk and Severomorsk. The base primarily housed the 431st Fighter Aviation Regiment (431-й ИАП), which was part of the 10th Independent Air Defence Army. This regiment operated Sukhoi Su-15TM 'Flagon' interceptor aircraft, tasked with intercepting NATO strategic bombers and reconnaissance aircraft, such as the B-52 and SR-71, that might penetrate Soviet airspace over the Arctic.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Khariusny Air Base. The cost of renovating the dilapidated infrastructure to modern standards would be prohibitive. Russia maintains several other active and more modern military airfields on the Kola Peninsula (e.g., Olenegorsk, Monchegorsk, Severomorsk-3) that fulfill the current strategic needs of the Northern Fleet and Aerospace Forces. Therefore, the reactivation of this remote and derelict base is considered highly unlikely.