Yefremov Air Base

The closure was a direct result of the large-scale military downsizing, restructuring, and severe economic constraints that followed the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The resident air regiment was disbanded, and the base was considered surplus to the requirements of the newly formed Russian Air Force. The phasing out of the MiG-23 aircraft fleet also contributed to the decision.

The air base is abandoned for aviation purposes and is in a state of significant decay. Satellite imagery shows the concrete runway, taxiways, and aircraft revetments are still largely intact but are cracked, overgrown, and unusable for flight operations. The site has been partially repurposed for civilian use. Former hangars and technical buildings are reportedly used by local businesses for storage, agriculture (such as grain storage), and light industrial activities. The abandoned runway is sometimes used by locals for informal auto racing and driver training, a common fate for former Soviet airfields.

Yefremov Air Base was a significant Cold War military installation, serving as a key interceptor base for the Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO). Its strategic importance stemmed from its location within the elite Moscow Air Defence District, tasked with protecting the capital and central industrial region from potential attack by Western bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. The base was home to the 191st Fighter Aviation Regiment (191-й ИАП). Over the years, this regiment operated various interceptor aircraft, notably the Sukhoi Su-9 'Fishpot' during the 1960s and 1970s, which was later replaced by the more advanced Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23P 'Flogger-G' that operated from the base until its closure.

There are no known official plans, government discussions, or credible prospects for reopening Yefremov Air Base. The cost to restore the heavily degraded infrastructure, including the runway, navigation systems, and support facilities, would be prohibitive. The site is not featured in any current Russian military modernization or strategic basing plans, making its reactivation for either military or civilian aviation highly unlikely.