Sovyetskiy Air Base

Military downsizing and economic restructuring following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. After the USSR's collapse, the base and its assets were transferred to the jurisdiction of Ukraine. The newly formed Ukrainian Air Force underwent significant reductions in size and budget, and could not sustain the large number of airfields inherited from the Soviet era. Consequently, the 93rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment stationed at Sovyetskiy was disbanded, and the air base was closed and abandoned.

The air base is no longer closed; it has been reactivated as a Russian military facility. Following the 2014 annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, the abandoned base was refurbished and brought back into service by the Russian military. Since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it has become a key forward operating base, primarily for Russian army aviation. Satellite imagery and military reports confirm the presence of numerous attack and transport helicopters, such as the Ka-52 'Alligator', Mi-28 'Havoc', and Mi-8 'Hip'. Due to its strategic role in supporting Russian operations in southern Ukraine, the base and its vicinity have been the target of reported Ukrainian strikes.

Sovyetskiy Air Base was a strategically important military airfield during the Cold War, primarily serving the Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO). Its main purpose was the air defense of the Crimean Peninsula and the northern Black Sea region against potential NATO incursions. The base was home to the 93rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (93 GvIAP). Over the years, this regiment operated a series of advanced interceptor aircraft, including the Sukhoi Su-15TM 'Flagon' and, from 1989, the formidable Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker'. The pilots and aircraft from Sovyetskiy were on constant alert to intercept NATO reconnaissance and combat aircraft operating over the Black Sea.

The air base has already been reopened for military use by the Russian Armed Forces. There are no known plans or prospects for it to be converted into a civilian airport. Its future is entirely tied to the military and the geopolitical status of Crimea. It will likely remain an active military installation for the foreseeable future.