Turtino Airport

Military downsizing and strategic realignment. The airport, primarily a military airbase known as Dobrynskoye, was closed as part of the large-scale Russian military reforms following the end of the Cold War. The disbandment of its resident air defense regiment made the base redundant.

The site is completely abandoned and in an advanced state of decay. The long concrete runway, taxiways, and numerous aircraft hardstands are still visible on satellite imagery but are cracked, weathered, and heavily overgrown with grass and trees. All associated buildings, including hangars, barracks, and command posts, are derelict, having been stripped of valuable materials and left to collapse. The former airbase is now a popular location for urban explorers and photographers.

Turtino Airport, more commonly known as Dobrynskoye Air Base, was a crucial Soviet Air Defense Forces (PVO) installation during the Cold War. Its primary mission was the air defense of Moscow and the surrounding Central Industrial Region. It was home to the 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment (23 IAP), a highly-regarded unit. Over its history, the regiment operated a series of progressively advanced interceptor aircraft, including the MiG-17, Su-9, Su-15, and ultimately the formidable Su-27 'Flanker'. The presence of Su-27s underscored its importance as a first-line defense asset protecting the capital.

There are no active or funded plans to reopen the airport. In the mid-2010s, regional authorities discussed the possibility of reviving the airfield as a civilian cargo or dual-use airport for the Vladimir Oblast. However, these plans never materialized due to the prohibitive cost required to reconstruct the runway, build new terminal infrastructure, and install modern navigation systems, as well as competition from the established Moscow aviation hub. The prospects for its revival are considered extremely low.