Palmira Airfield

Military disarmament and strategic force reduction. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited a large fleet of strategic bombers. Under international agreements, notably the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program, Ukraine agreed to eliminate its strategic nuclear-capable aircraft. The Tupolev Tu-22M3 bombers stationed at Zolotonosha were systematically scrapped on-site during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Once the aircraft were gone, the base lost its primary purpose and was decommissioned.

The airfield is completely abandoned and in a state of severe decay. Satellite imagery confirms that the 2,500-meter concrete runway, extensive taxiways, and dozens of aircraft dispersal hardstands remain visible but are cracked, weathered, and heavily overgrown with grass and trees. Most of the infrastructure, including hangars, barracks, and technical buildings, are in ruins or have been systematically dismantled for building materials by local populations over the years. The site is a non-operational military brownfield, a relic of the Cold War.

Zolotonosha Air Base was a key strategic military installation for both the Soviet and later the Ukrainian Air Forces. It was the home base of the 185th Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (185 Gv TBAP). During the Cold War, this regiment operated Tupolev Tu-16 'Badger' bombers and was later re-equipped with the supersonic, long-range Tupolev Tu-22M2 and Tu-22M3 'Backfire' bombers. These aircraft were a critical part of the Soviet Long Range Aviation, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and posed a significant strategic threat to NATO. After Ukraine's independence in 1991, the base and its formidable bomber fleet were transferred to the Ukrainian Air Force until their eventual elimination.

Effectively zero. There are no known or credible plans to reopen or redevelop the airfield for either military or civilian aviation. The cost to restore the runway, taxiways, and essential infrastructure to operational standards would be immense. Furthermore, there is no economic or strategic justification for its reactivation, especially given the proximity of other airfields and the current military conflict in Ukraine. The site is likely to remain abandoned for the foreseeable future.