Pustogorod Air Base

The air base was closed due to military restructuring and severe economic constraints following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The newly independent nation of Ukraine inherited a vast Soviet military infrastructure that it could not afford to maintain. Specialized training bases like Hlukhiv were deemed redundant, and the aviation regiment stationed there was disbanded.

The air base is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced decay. Satellite imagery confirms that the runway, taxiways, and aircraft aprons are derelict, with concrete slabs broken, shifted, and overgrown with vegetation. Most of the technical and residential buildings on the site are in ruins, having been dismantled for materials over the years. The site is a relic of the Soviet era and is not used for any aviation or official military purpose. Given its location less than 20 kilometers from the Russian border, it lies in a highly sensitive area, particularly since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Historically known as Hlukhiv Air Base (or Chervone-Pustohorod), this was a significant training facility for the Soviet Air Force. It was the home base of the 760th Instructor Fighter Aviation Regiment (Military Unit 21814), which was subordinate to the Kharkiv Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots. The base's primary mission was the practical flight training of future fighter pilots. Cadets progressed through training on jet aircraft, primarily the Aero L-29 Delfín and later the Aero L-39 Albatros. The base was a key component in the Cold War-era pilot production pipeline for the Soviet military.

There are no known official plans or realistic prospects for reopening the air base. The cost to clear the site and completely rebuild the runway, taxiways, and all supporting infrastructure would be immense. Furthermore, its strategic vulnerability due to its extreme proximity to the Russian border makes it an unsuitable location for a modern, active military or civilian airfield, especially in the current and foreseeable geopolitical climate.