Kozelsk Heliport

The heliport, more accurately known as Kozelsk Air Base, was closed due to large-scale military restructuring and downsizing in the Russian Armed Forces following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The primary unit stationed at the base, the 239th Independent Guards Helicopter Regiment, was disbanded around 1998, rendering the airfield's primary mission obsolete and leading to its closure for economic and strategic reasons.

The airbase is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced decay. Satellite imagery shows the runways, taxiways, and helipads are cracked, heavily weathered, and significantly overgrown with vegetation. Many of the hangars and support buildings are derelict, with some in a state of partial or total collapse. The site is non-operational, and there is no aviation activity. It is effectively a military ghost town, a relic of the Cold War.

The site was a significant military airbase, not just a simple heliport. It was the home of the 239th Independent Guards Helicopter Regiment. The regiment's crucial mission was to provide direct aviation support to the 28th Guards Rocket Division of the Strategic Rocket Forces, a key component of Russia's nuclear triad located in the nearby military town of Kozelsk-1. The base's operations included transporting personnel and equipment, providing security for the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) silos, and serving as a mobile command post. The regiment operated a variety of helicopters, most notably the Mi-6 (heavy transport), Mi-8 (utility transport), and Mi-24 (attack helicopter). Its role made it an integral part of the Soviet and later Russian nuclear deterrent infrastructure during the Cold War.

There are no known official plans, discussions, or credible prospects for reopening the Kozelsk Air Base. The infrastructure is too degraded to be reactivated without immense financial investment. The Russian military has consolidated its forces, and there is no apparent strategic or operational need to restore this specific base. The prospects for reopening are considered to be virtually non-existent.