Zherdevka Air Base

The closure of Zherdevka Air Base was a direct result of the large-scale military reforms and budget cuts that followed the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The 760th Training Aviation Regiment, which was based here, was disbanded in 1999. This was part of a broader trend of downsizing the Russian Armed Forces, which led to the closure of numerous military installations deemed redundant or too costly to maintain. There was no single accident or event that caused the closure; it was a strategic and economic decision.

The Zherdevka Air Base is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced decay. Satellite imagery and ground-level reports confirm that the runway, taxiways, and aprons are severely cracked, crumbling, and extensively overgrown with grass and trees. All associated buildings, including hangars, barracks, and administrative facilities, are in ruins, with many having been dismantled for scrap materials by locals over the years. The site is not used for any official purpose and stands as a derelict relic of the Soviet military era. It is occasionally visited by urban explorers and former personnel.

Zherdevka Air Base was a key military training facility for the Soviet and later Russian Air Forces. Its primary historical significance lies in being the home of the 760th Training Aviation Regiment (760 UAP). This regiment was part of the renowned Borisoglebsk Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots named after V.P. Chkalov. The base's main operation was providing primary and basic flight training to cadets. For decades, thousands of future military pilots took their first flights here, mastering trainer aircraft. The primary aircraft operated from the base were the Aero L-29 Delfin, which was later replaced by the more advanced Aero L-39 Albatros. The base played a crucial role in the initial stages of the pilot training pipeline for the Soviet Air Force.

There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening the Zherdevka Air Base. The infrastructure is beyond repair without a massive investment. Given its remote location, the lack of strategic need, and the extensive network of active military and civilian airfields in Russia, there is no economic or military justification for its revival. The site is expected to continue its natural decay and remain abandoned for the foreseeable future.