Povorino Air Base

Military restructuring and economic reasons. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Russian military underwent significant downsizing and consolidation. The Borisoglebsk Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, for which Povorino served as a training airfield, was reorganized, and many of its satellite airfields were deemed redundant and too costly to maintain. This led to the closure of Povorino and its subsequent abandonment.

The air base is completely abandoned and in a state of severe disrepair. Satellite imagery and ground reports show a decaying concrete runway, overgrown taxiways, and derelict buildings, including barracks, command posts, and hangars. The site is not maintained or secured, making it a popular destination for urban explorers and photographers. The land is likely still under the jurisdiction of the Russian Ministry of Defence but serves no official purpose.

Povorino Air Base was a key training airfield (аэродром) for the prestigious Borisoglebsk Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots (Борисоглебское высшее военное авиационное училище лётчиков - БВВАУЛ). Its primary function was to provide initial and ongoing flight training for cadets of the Soviet Air Force, and later the Russian Air Force. Operations consisted mainly of training sorties where cadets would practice takeoffs, landings, circuit flying, and basic aerobatic maneuvers. The primary aircraft operated from the base were jet trainers, most notably the Aero L-29 Delfin and its successor, the Aero L-39 Albatros. The base was part of a large and vital network of training facilities that produced thousands of military pilots during the Cold War.

There are no known official plans or prospects for reopening the Povorino Air Base. The cost of restoring the runway, taxiways, and all associated infrastructure to operational standards would be prohibitively expensive. The Russian Air Force has since consolidated its pilot training programs at other, more modern facilities. Therefore, the strategic and economic justification for its revival is nonexistent, and it is expected to remain abandoned.