Genichesk Air Base

The air base was closed and largely abandoned following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. As the Soviet military structure was dismantled, the base was transferred to the newly independent Ukrainian Armed Forces, which underwent significant downsizing. Due to a combination of budget constraints, strategic realignment, and the base's aging infrastructure, it was deemed non-essential and fell into disuse.

Following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the long-abandoned Genichesk Air Base was occupied and reactivated by the Russian Armed Forces. Due to its strategic location near the front lines in southern Ukraine and its proximity to Crimea, Russia has repurposed it as a forward operating base (FOB) and a major helicopter hub. Satellite imagery and open-source intelligence have confirmed the presence of numerous Russian attack and transport helicopters, such as the Ka-52 'Alligator', Mi-28, Mi-24, and Mi-8. The base has become a significant logistical and staging point for Russian operations in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts and has been the target of Ukrainian long-range strikes, including a notable missile attack in June 2023.

During the Cold War, Genichesk Air Base was a strategically important facility for the Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO). Its primary role was to provide air defense for the southern regions of the Ukrainian SSR, the Crimean Peninsula, and the Sea of Azov. The base hosted fighter aviation units, most notably the 933rd Fighter Aviation Regiment (933 IAP). This regiment operated a series of interceptor aircraft over the years, including the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17, Sukhoi Su-9, and later the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23. The base's location made it critical for intercepting potential NATO incursions from the Black Sea.

There are no prospects for reopening the air base for civilian or regular Ukrainian military use under the current circumstances of military occupation and active conflict. Its future is entirely contingent on the outcome of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Should the territory be de-occupied by Ukraine, any potential for reopening would depend on a thorough strategic assessment by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. The site would likely require extensive demining, evaluation of environmental damage, and complete reconstruction of the runway, taxiways, and support facilities, which have suffered from decades of neglect and damage from the ongoing war.