Yermilovo Air Base

Military conversion and strategic restructuring. The air base was closed as a military facility following the disbandment of its resident fighter aviation regiment during the post-Soviet reforms and downsizing of the Russian Armed Forces.

The site is not abandoned; it has been fully converted into a civilian airport. It is now known as Primorsk Airport (Аэропорт Приморск) with the ICAO code ULLY. The airport primarily serves business and general aviation traffic. Its operations are closely linked to the nearby Port of Primorsk, the largest Russian oil-loading port in the Baltic region, providing transportation for personnel and logistical support for the port and the Baltic Pipeline System. The airfield infrastructure, including the main runway and taxiways, is maintained and operational for civil aircraft.

Yermilovo Air Base was a key frontline air defense installation for the Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO) during the Cold War. Its primary mission was the protection of the strategically vital Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) Military District from air attacks originating from the Baltic Sea and Northern Europe. The base was home to the 180th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (180 GvIAP), a decorated unit that operated a succession of advanced interceptor aircraft. Operations included flying MiG-17s, MiG-19s, Yak-28Ps, and Su-15TMs. In its final years as a military base, from the late 1980s until its closure, it was equipped with the formidable Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker', one of the most capable air superiority fighters of its time, underscoring the base's importance in the Soviet/Russian air defense network.

A reopening as a military air base is highly unlikely, as Russia's air defense strategy has evolved and forces have been consolidated at other airfields. However, the airport has strong prospects for continued civilian use and potential expansion. Its future development is tied to the economic activity of the Port of Primorsk and the Leningrad Oblast. Growth could include enhanced facilities for business aviation, increased cargo capacity, or the potential introduction of regional passenger services, though no definitive large-scale expansion plans have been officially announced.