Ostrov Bolshevik Air Base

The air base was closed due to the economic collapse following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. This led to a massive reduction in military funding and a strategic drawdown from many remote and expensive High Arctic installations. The associated Cape Baranov (Мыс Баранова) scientific station was also mothballed during this period, removing the primary logistical need for the airfield.

The site is no longer closed. In 2013, in line with Russia's renewed strategic focus on the Arctic, the airfield and the adjacent 'Ice Base Cape Baranov' scientific station were rehabilitated and officially reopened. The station is operated by Russia's Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI). The airfield is now fully operational and serves as a vital logistics hub for the research station. It regularly handles flights by aircraft such as the Antonov An-74 and Mil Mi-8 helicopters, which transport scientists, equipment, and supplies. While its primary function is scientific support, its infrastructure has dual-use potential for military operations.

During the Cold War, this airfield was a key component of the Soviet Union's network of forward staging bases in the Arctic. Its strategic purpose was to serve as a 'bounce' airfield for long-range strategic bombers like the Tupolev Tu-95, allowing them to refuel and extend their operational range towards North America. It also supported long-range reconnaissance aircraft and transport planes (such as the An-12 and Il-76) that supplied the numerous military and scientific outposts across the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago. The base was crucial for projecting Soviet military power, asserting sovereignty over its Arctic sector, and enabling year-round scientific research in one of the world's most remote locations.

The airport has already been reopened and is currently active. Future prospects point towards continued and possibly expanded operations. Russia's national Arctic strategy involves modernizing and expanding its network of scientific and military infrastructure in the region. Therefore, the Cape Baranov airfield is expected to remain a key logistical asset, supporting a growing Russian presence in the High Arctic for scientific, economic, and strategic purposes.