Bezenchuk Airfield

The closure was a direct result of the large-scale restructuring and reduction of the Russian Armed Forces following the collapse of the Soviet Union. It was part of a broader military cost-saving initiative that led to the consolidation of training activities and the closure of numerous bases deemed redundant during a period of severe economic crisis.

The airfield is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced decay. Satellite imagery and ground reports show the concrete runways and taxiways are still largely intact but are cracked, weathered, and being reclaimed by vegetation. Most of the base's infrastructure, including hangars, barracks, and administrative buildings, are in ruins or have been dismantled for materials. The site is not officially used for any purpose and has become a popular destination for urban explorers, photographers, and local residents for informal recreational activities like driving or drone flying.

Bezenchuk was a major Soviet and Russian military air base, primarily serving as a training facility. It was home to the 626th Training Helicopter Regiment (626-й учебный вертолётный полк), which was a key component of the prestigious Syzran Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots (СВВАУЛ). For decades, the airfield was instrumental in the primary and advanced flight training of thousands of helicopter pilots for the Soviet and later Russian military, operating aircraft such as the Mil Mi-2, Mi-8, and Mi-24 helicopters.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for the reopening or redevelopment of Bezenchuk Airfield. The prohibitive cost of restoring the derelict infrastructure, combined with the proximity of other active military and civil airports in the Samara Oblast region (such as the Syzran (Troitsekoe) air base and Kurumoch International Airport), makes its revival economically and strategically unfeasible in the foreseeable future.