Zhovti Vody Airstrip

The primary reason for closure was economic collapse following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The centrally planned and heavily subsidized Soviet system of regional air travel became financially unsustainable for the newly independent Ukraine. Like hundreds of other small local airfields, Zhovti Vody Airstrip ceased operations due to a sharp decline in passenger demand, lack of state funding for maintenance and operations, and the overall economic crisis of the period.

The airstrip is completely abandoned and derelict. Satellite imagery shows the concrete slab runway is still largely intact but is in a state of severe disrepair, with significant vegetation growth between the slabs and on the surrounding grounds. There are no functional buildings or infrastructure remaining. The site is not officially used for any purpose, although it is sometimes used unofficially by locals for activities such as driver training or informal gatherings.

The airstrip was a local airport (known in the Soviet system as an MVL - 'Mestnyye Vozdushnyye Linii' or Local Air Lines) serving the city of Zhovti Vody. Its main significance was tied to the city's strategic importance as a major center for uranium ore mining and processing (home to the Vostochny Mining and Processing Plant - VostGOK). The airport provided essential connectivity for engineers, scientists, officials, and workers, linking the city to regional centers like Dnipropetrovsk (now Dnipro) and the capital, Kyiv. Operations typically involved small, short-haul aircraft common on such routes, including the Antonov An-2 and possibly the Let L-410 Turbolet.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening the Zhovti Vody Airstrip. The cost to repair the runway, build modern facilities, and install necessary navigation and safety equipment would be substantial. The potential passenger demand from the city is insufficient to support a commercially viable airport, especially given the relative proximity of the (pre-war) major airport in Dnipro. The current military conflict in Ukraine makes any non-essential civil infrastructure projects of this nature completely unfeasible for the foreseeable future.