Smychkovo Airfield

The airfield, more commonly known as Soltsy-2 Air Base, was a forward operating base for Tupolev Tu-22M3 strategic bombers. On August 19, 2023, during the Russo-Ukrainian War, the base was struck by a Ukrainian drone. The attack caused a fire that destroyed at least one Tu-22M3 bomber. Following this successful strike, the Russian Aerospace Forces immediately relocated the remaining bombers to other bases (primarily Olenya Air Base near the Arctic Circle) far from the Ukrainian border to protect these high-value assets. The closure was a direct military-strategic decision for asset preservation.

As of late 2023, the airfield is an inactive military installation under the control of the Russian Ministry of Defence. Following the August 2023 drone attack, all strategic aircraft were removed. The base is likely maintained by a minimal caretaker crew. Satellite imagery confirms the absence of operational aircraft and shows the scorch mark where a bomber was destroyed. The site is a restricted military zone and is not used for any civilian or commercial purpose.

The facility at these coordinates is the Soltsy-2 Air Base, a significant military airfield for the Soviet and later Russian Long-Range Aviation. 'Smychkovo' is an alternate name, likely derived from a nearby village. The ICAO code RU-0415 is an internal Russian identifier, while its military designation is Soltsy-2.

Its primary historical role was as the home base for the 840th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (840 TBAP). This regiment operated a fleet of Tupolev Tu-22M3 (NATO reporting name: 'Backfire-C') supersonic, long-range strategic bombers. During the Cold War and into the post-Soviet era, the base was a key component of Russia's nuclear triad and conventional deep-strike capability. The 840th regiment was disbanded as part of military reforms around 2010, after which the airfield was used as a dispersal and forward deployment base for Tu-22M3s from other regiments.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airfield as a permanent base for strategic bombers in the foreseeable future. Its vulnerability to drone attacks makes it unsuitable for housing high-value strategic assets as long as the conflict with Ukraine persists. It is possible the Russian military could use it as a temporary staging point for less valuable aircraft like transport planes or helicopters, but its role as a key bomber base is effectively over. There are no plans for conversion to civilian use.