Medyn-Aduyevo Air Base

The closure was a direct result of the large-scale military downsizing and restructuring that occurred after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The primary drivers were the severe economic crisis in Russia during the 1990s and strategic arms reduction treaties, which led to the disbandment of numerous military units, including the one at Medyn-Aduyevo.

The air base is completely abandoned and non-operational. The long concrete runway (over 3000 meters) and extensive taxiways are still visible on satellite imagery but are severely decayed, cracked, and overgrown, making them unusable for any aviation purposes. The technical facilities, hangars, and the associated military garrison town ('garnizon') are largely in ruins or have been dismantled for materials. The site is known to be used for unauthorized local activities such as street racing and drifting. Significant portions of the former airfield's territory have been repurposed for large-scale agricultural operations.

During the Cold War, Medyn-Aduyevo was a major strategic air base for the Soviet Long-Range Aviation (Дальняя авиация). It was home to the 201st Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (201 TBAP). Initially, the regiment operated Tupolev Tu-16 'Badger' bombers. Later, it was re-equipped with the far more advanced, nuclear-capable supersonic Tupolev Tu-22M2 and Tu-22M3 'Backfire' bombers. As a base for strategic bombers, it was a key component of the Soviet Union's nuclear deterrent and power projection capabilities against NATO.

There are no known or publicly discussed plans to reopen the Medyn-Aduyevo Air Base. The cost of restoring the runway, taxiways, and all supporting infrastructure to operational standards would be prohibitive. From a military perspective, the Russian Air Force has consolidated its remaining strategic bomber fleet at a smaller number of modernized key bases (like Shaykovka, Engels, and Ukrainka), making Medyn-Aduyevo strategically redundant. There is also no civilian case for its reopening, as the regional aviation needs are met by the Kaluga (Grabtsevo) International Airport.