Belogorsk Airfield

The airfield's closure was a direct result of the systemic economic collapse following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The state-run Aeroflot, which operated a vast network of local air services (Местные воздушные линии - MVL), was broken up and state subsidies were eliminated. This made operations to small, remote settlements like Belogorsk financially unviable. The sharp decline in the local economy and population's purchasing power further reduced demand, leading to the abandonment of hundreds of similar small airfields across Russia.

The airfield is completely abandoned and non-operational. Satellite imagery shows a clearly defined but decaying and overgrown unpaved runway. There are no signs of active use, and any associated infrastructure, such as a small terminal or service building, is likely derelict or has been dismantled. The site is not maintained and is slowly being reclaimed by nature. The ICAO code 'RU-0765' is an internal Russian index and not an official international code, reflecting its status as a minor domestic airfield.

Belogorsk Airfield was a typical Soviet-era local airfield, serving as a vital transportation link for the remote urban-type settlement of Belogorsk in Kemerovo Oblast. The settlement's economy is centered around the Belogorsky nepheline mine. The airfield was part of the extensive Aeroflot local network and primarily handled passenger, mail, and light cargo transport. Operations connected Belogorsk with the regional capital, Kemerovo, and potentially other nearby towns. The flights were crucial for administrative travel, medical services (including emergency evacuations), and connecting the community to the rest of the region before reliable, all-season road networks were fully developed. The airfield typically serviced small, robust aircraft like the Antonov An-2 biplane, which was the workhorse of Soviet regional aviation.

There are no known or publicly discussed plans to reopen Belogorsk Airfield. The economic rationale for its operation no longer exists. The settlement's population is small (under 3,000), and it is now connected by road to the regional transport network. The cost of rebuilding the infrastructure and subsidizing flights would be prohibitive and is not considered a priority in regional or federal transportation development plans. The prospects for reopening are effectively zero.