Klimovo Air Base

The air base was functionally closed as part of the large-scale post-Soviet military reforms and downsizing. The helicopter regiment stationed at the base was disbanded, and the facility was placed in a state of conservation or reserve status due to military restructuring and economic constraints following the dissolution of the USSR.

The air base is no longer closed and is currently an active military facility. It was reactivated in the years leading up to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and now serves as a major forward operating base (FOB) for the Russian Aerospace Forces. Satellite imagery and defense intelligence reports since 2022 confirm that the base is heavily used, hosting a significant number of attack and transport helicopters, including Ka-52 'Alligator', Mi-28 'Havoc', and Mi-8 'Hip' models. These assets are directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine. Due to its strategic role, the base and its surrounding area have been reported as targets of Ukrainian strikes. The 'closed' status found in some public aviation databases is outdated.

During the Cold War, Klimovo Air Base was a significant military installation for Soviet Air Forces. It was primarily home to the 225th Independent Helicopter Regiment, which operated fleets of Mi-24 attack helicopters and Mi-8 transport helicopters. Its strategic location in the Bryansk Oblast, close to the borders of what were then the Ukrainian and Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republics, made it an important base for supporting ground forces within the Moscow Military District. The base was designed to project air power and provide mobility and fire support in the western strategic direction.

The base has already been reopened for military purposes and is fully operational. There are no known plans or prospects for converting it to a civilian airport. Its future will remain tied to the strategic requirements of the Russian Ministry of Defense and the geopolitical situation in the region.