Karaksar Air Base

Post-Soviet military downsizing and strategic realignment. Following the dissolution of the USSR, the large military presence in the Transbaikal region, aimed at countering China, was significantly reduced due to severe budget cuts and improved international relations. The aviation regiments stationed at Olovyannaya were disbanded or relocated to other bases, leading to its abandonment.

The air base is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced decay. Satellite imagery and ground reports confirm that its two concrete runways, numerous taxiways, and over 50 hardened aircraft shelters (revetments) are crumbling and overgrown. All administrative buildings, barracks, and technical facilities are in ruins. The site has no active military or civilian function and has become a destination for urban explorers and scrap metal collectors. It stands as a ghost facility, a relic of the Cold War.

Olovyannaya Air Base, also known as Karaksar, was a major strategic air base for the Soviet Air Force's 23rd Air Army, located in the Transbaikal Military District near the Chinese border. Its location made it crucial for projecting air power and conducting reconnaissance during the period of Sino-Soviet tensions. The base was home to several key units over its history, primarily hosting fighter-bomber and reconnaissance regiments. Notable units included:
- **189th Guards Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (189 GvAPIB):** Flew Sukhoi Su-17M3 and later Su-17M4 'Fitter' aircraft. This was one of the main regiments at the base before its disbandment in the early 1990s.
- **58th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (58 APIB):** Flew Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 'Flogger' aircraft.
- **125th Independent Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment (125 ORAP):** Operated high-speed Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25RB 'Foxbat-B' reconnaissance bombers.
The base's operations were central to the Soviet military posture in the Far East, providing a powerful ground-attack and reconnaissance capability.

There are no known official plans or realistic prospects for reopening the Olovyannaya air base. The cost to restore the dilapidated infrastructure—including runways, navigation systems, and buildings—would be prohibitive. Furthermore, Russia's current strategic needs in the region are met by other active air bases like Domna and Chita Kadala. The lack of economic or military justification makes its revival highly improbable.