Yegorlykskaya Air Base

The air base was closed following the disbandment of the military unit stationed there, the 802nd Training Aviation Regiment. This closure was part of the large-scale military reforms, downsizing, and severe budget cuts that took place across Russia's armed forces following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.

The air base is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced decay. The concrete runway, taxiways, and aircraft revetments are crumbling, heavily weathered, and overgrown with grass and trees, rendering them unusable for any aviation activity. Many of the on-site buildings, such as hangars and barracks, are derelict. Some parts of the former base territory and its structures have been repurposed by local agricultural enterprises, reportedly for grain storage and as a depot for farm equipment.

Yegorlykskaya Air Base was a significant military training facility for the Soviet and later the Russian Air Force. Its primary role was to serve as the home base for the 802nd Training Aviation Regiment (802 UAP), which was part of the renowned Eysk Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots (EVVAUL). For over four decades (from the 1950s to 1998), the base was instrumental in the primary and basic flight training of thousands of military pilots. Operations were centered on jet trainer aircraft, initially the Aero L-29 Delfin and later the Aero L-39 Albatros. The base was a crucial component of the Soviet Union's extensive pilot training infrastructure.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening the Yegorlykskaya Air Base. The cost to restore the heavily deteriorated aviation infrastructure would be prohibitive. The Russian military has consolidated its training bases elsewhere, and there is no strategic or operational need for this location. Furthermore, there is no commercial or civilian demand that would justify its conversion, especially with the major Platov International Airport (ROV) serving the Rostov region. The site is considered permanently closed for aviation purposes.