Glazhevo Airstrip

Military and economic reasons. The airfield was a Soviet Air Force reserve/dispersal base. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, massive military budget cuts and a strategic reorganization of the Russian Air Force made such secondary airfields redundant and financially unsustainable to maintain. It was abandoned as part of the widespread reduction of military infrastructure.

The site is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced decay. Satellite imagery shows the runway and taxiway layout are still clearly visible, but the concrete surfaces are cracked, heavily weathered, and being reclaimed by vegetation. Many of the concrete slabs have been dismantled and removed by locals for use as building materials over the past decades. All associated military buildings are either demolished or in ruins. The area is not officially used for any purpose and is sometimes frequented by urban explorers and local drivers.

Glazhevo was a Cold War-era military airfield, serving as a reserve or dispersal base ('aerodrom zapasa' or 'aerodrom rassredotocheniya') for the Soviet Air Defense Forces (PVO). Constructed likely in the 1970s, its primary purpose was to host fighter-interceptor aircraft from primary bases in the Leningrad Military District in the event of a conflict, increasing their survivability against a first strike. It was designed to support aircraft such as the MiG-23, MiG-25, and Su-15. The base featured a substantial concrete runway (approximately 2500 meters), taxiways, and numerous hardened aircraft revetments, but minimal permanent infrastructure, typical for a dispersal field. It never handled civilian passenger or cargo operations.

There are no known or credible plans to reopen or redevelop the Glazhevo Airstrip. The cost of restoring the runway and building modern infrastructure would be prohibitive, and there is no current strategic military or commercial aviation demand for an airfield in this location. It is considered a relic of the Cold War with no prospects for future aviation use.