Poduzhemye Air Base

The closure was a direct result of the large-scale military restructuring and downsizing of the Russian Armed Forces following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The primary unit stationed at the base, the 641st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, was disbanded as part of post-Cold War strategic re-evaluation and severe economic constraints, rendering the base surplus to requirements.

The air base is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced dereliction. Satellite imagery and urban exploration reports confirm that the runway, taxiways, and aircraft revetments are crumbling and being overgrown by forest. The hardened aircraft shelters, command posts, barracks, and technical buildings are decaying, have been stripped of valuable materials, and are heavily vandalized. The site has no official function and is effectively a military ghost town.

Poduzhemye Air Base was a key forward operating base for the Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO) throughout the Cold War. Its strategic location in the Republic of Karelia, near the border with Finland, made it a critical component of the air defense shield for the northwestern USSR and the vital naval bases on the Kola Peninsula. The base primarily hosted the 641st Guards Orshanskiy Red Banner order of Suvorov Fighter Aviation Regiment (641 GvIAP). This elite regiment operated a succession of advanced interceptor aircraft, including the Yakovlev Yak-28P 'Firebar', the Sukhoi Su-15TM 'Flagon', and, in its final years, the highly capable Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker'. The base was on high alert to intercept potential NATO bombers and reconnaissance aircraft approaching from the Arctic and North Atlantic.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Poduzhemye Air Base. The infrastructure is in a state of ruin, and the cost of renovating the runway and facilities to modern standards would be prohibitive. The Russian Air Force meets its current strategic needs in the region with other active air bases, making the reactivation of Poduzhemye unnecessary.