Askaniya-Nova Airport

Primarily economic. The collapse of the Soviet Union led to the cessation of state funding for the vast network of small, local airfields operated by Aeroflot's regional divisions. The airfield, like many others of its kind, became economically unviable due to a lack of subsidies, declining demand for local air travel, and the restructuring of the large-scale collective farms it served.

The site is completely abandoned and derelict. Satellite imagery confirms that the former runway is no longer maintained, is heavily overgrown, and has essentially reverted to a field, making it unusable for any aviation purposes. The surrounding area is agricultural land. Crucially, since February 2022, this location in the Kherson Oblast has been under Russian military occupation, placing it within an active conflict zone. Its status as derelict land remains, with no known current use.

The airfield's main purpose was to serve the local agricultural sector and the internationally renowned Askaniya-Nova Biosphere Reserve. Its operations consisted of:
1. **Agricultural Aviation:** It was a base for agricultural aircraft, most likely Antonov An-2 biplanes, used for crop dusting and aerial application of fertilizers on the vast farmlands of the region.
2. **Tourism and Scientific Transport:** It provided air access for tourists, officials, and scientists traveling to the unique Askaniya-Nova reserve, which was a major point of interest.
3. **General Aviation & Local Transport:** It handled limited local passenger and cargo flights, connecting the remote rural area to regional centers. It was a typical small, unpaved, local-service airfield of the Soviet era.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airport. Even before the 2022 full-scale invasion, there was no economic or strategic case for its revival. Given the current military occupation, the ongoing war, and the immense post-war reconstruction challenges Ukraine will face, the restoration of a small, defunct airfield like Askaniya-Nova is considered extremely unlikely and would be a very low priority.