Gurlevo

Military restructuring and unit disbandment. The airfield was closed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the subsequent disbandment of the air regiment stationed there. This was part of a broader trend of military downsizing and budget cuts across the former USSR in the early 1990s. There was no longer a strategic or financial justification to maintain the base.

The airfield is completely abandoned and in a state of decay. Satellite imagery and reports from urban explorers show the concrete runway, taxiways, and aircraft revetments are still largely intact but are heavily weathered, cracked, and being reclaimed by nature. Most of the support buildings, hangars, and barracks are in ruins or have been dismantled for building materials by local residents. The site is not used for any official purpose and is a popular destination for stalkers and military history enthusiasts.

Gurlevo was a significant Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO) airbase with the primary mission of protecting the northwestern approaches to Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). It was home to the 98th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (98 GvIAP). Throughout its operational history, the regiment flew various interceptor aircraft, starting with the MiG-19, later upgrading to the Sukhoi Su-9 'Fishpot' in the 1960s, and finally operating the advanced Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23ML/MLD 'Flogger-G' from the late 1970s until the base's closure. The base was a key component of the Cold War air defense network for one of the Soviet Union's most important cities.

There are no known official plans or prospects for reopening the Gurlevo airfield. The significant deterioration of the infrastructure, including the runway and buildings, would require a massive investment to restore. Given its remote location and the lack of current strategic or economic need, its revival as an active airfield is highly improbable.