Baronovskiy Airfield

Military Reorganization. The closure was a direct result of the post-Soviet restructuring and downsizing of the Russian Armed Forces. Specifically, the 713th Training Aviation Regiment (Uchebnyy Aviatsionnyy Polk - UAP), which was based at Baronovskiy as part of the Armavir Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots (AVVAKUL), was disbanded. This was part of a broader consolidation of military training assets, and the airfield was deemed surplus to requirements.

The airfield is completely abandoned and in a derelict state. Satellite imagery and local reports confirm that the concrete runway, taxiways, and hardstands are severely degraded, cracked, and heavily overgrown with grass and shrubs. The airfield's support buildings and infrastructure are in ruins. The site is not maintained and is inaccessible for any official purpose. It is a relic of the Soviet military's extensive aviation infrastructure and is effectively a 'ghost' airfield.

Baronovskiy Airfield was a significant military training facility for the Soviet and later Russian Air Forces. Its primary role was to serve as a training ground for cadets from the prestigious Armavir Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots (AVVAKUL). For decades, the airfield handled intensive flight training operations. Cadets would progress through their initial jet training here, flying aircraft such as the Aero L-29 Delfin and its successor, the Aero L-39 Albatros. The airfield was instrumental in training thousands of pilots who would go on to serve in fighter and bomber regiments across the Soviet Union and Russia. It was a classic example of a Cold War-era satellite training airfield, located a short distance from the main Armavir airbase.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Baronovskiy Airfield. The cost to restore the runway, taxiways, and all associated infrastructure to operational standards would be prohibitive. Furthermore, the nearby Armavir South Air Base (URKR) is fully active and serves the current needs of the Russian Aerospace Forces' training command in the region. Given the derelict condition of Baronovskiy and the presence of a modern, active base nearby, its revival is considered highly improbable.