Aerodrom Krupske

The closure was a direct result of the collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent changes in Ukraine's military doctrine and economic situation. The primary reasons include: 1) **Military Downsizing & Disarmament:** As part of international agreements (like the START I treaty and the Budapest Memorandum), Ukraine relinquished its nuclear arsenal, which included the strategic bombers and cruise missiles based at Stryi. 2) **Change in Strategic Need:** An independent Ukraine had no strategic requirement for a large, offensive heavy bomber base. 3) **Economic Factors:** The immense cost of maintaining the base, its infrastructure, and the fleet of complex Tu-22M3 bombers was unsustainable for the newly independent Ukrainian economy.

The site is abandoned and in a state of severe disrepair. The main runway, taxiways, and aprons are heavily deteriorated, cracked, and overgrown with vegetation. The hardened aircraft shelters, command bunkers, and support buildings are derelict, with many having been dismantled for scrap and building materials by locals over the years. The vast territory has been unofficially used for various purposes, including car races and drifting events, agricultural activities, and reportedly for illegal amber mining. It is a popular site for urban explorers and military history enthusiasts. While not an active airbase, its strategic location means it may be used periodically for limited military ground training exercises.

The facility, more commonly known as Stryi Air Base, was a major strategic military airfield for the Soviet Union's Long-Range Aviation during the Cold War. It was home to the 260th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (260 TBAP). Initially, the base operated Tupolev Tu-16 'Badger' bombers. In the 1970s, it was upgraded to host the supersonic, variable-sweep wing Tupolev Tu-22M2 and later the Tu-22M3 'Backfire' bombers. These aircraft were capable of carrying nuclear-armed cruise missiles (like the Kh-22) and were a key component of the Soviet Union's nuclear deterrent, with the primary mission of striking NATO targets in Western Europe. After 1991, the base and its aircraft were transferred to the Ukrainian Air Force before being decommissioned.

There are no known official or funded plans to reopen the airport. Over the years, there have been occasional proposals by local authorities to redevelop the site into a civilian cargo or passenger airport to supplement Lviv's main airport, but the prohibitive cost of completely rebuilding the infrastructure has prevented any progress. Given the current military situation in Ukraine since the 2022 invasion, its potential as a reserve or dispersal airfield has been discussed in military analysis circles, but its current dilapidated condition would require a massive and time-consuming reconstruction effort to make it operational for modern aircraft.