Chervonyi Chaban Airfield

Military downsizing and economic reasons following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The airfield remained derelict for over two decades, with its runway and infrastructure slowly decaying. However, its strategic location near the administrative border with Russian-occupied Crimea gave it renewed importance. Following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the abandoned airfield was captured and reactivated by Russian Armed Forces. It was converted into a major forward operating base (FOB) and helicopter hub, primarily used for staging attack helicopters like the Ka-52 'Alligator' and Mi-28 'Havoc' for operations in Kherson and Mykolaiv Oblasts. Due to its critical role in supporting Russian ground forces, the airfield became a high-value target for the Ukrainian military. Throughout 2022, it was repeatedly struck by long-range artillery and HIMARS rockets, resulting in significant documented losses of Russian aircraft and equipment. The site is currently in an active warzone, located in Russian-occupied territory, and remains a heavily fortified military installation.

Chervonyi Chaban Airfield (also known as Myrne Air Base, as 'Chervonyi Chaban' was the former name of the nearby village of Myrne) was a significant Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO) base during the Cold War. Its primary role was to provide air defense for the southern region of the Ukrainian SSR and the Black Sea. The airfield was home to the 51st Guards Fighter-Aviation Regiment (51 GvIAP). This elite unit operated advanced fighter aircraft, including the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 'Flogger' and later, the Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker', one of the most capable fighters of its era. After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the base and its regiment were transferred to the newly formed Ukrainian Air Force. However, due to severe economic constraints and a large-scale restructuring and downsizing of the Ukrainian military, the 51st GvIAP was disbanded and the airfield was closed and abandoned in the late 1990s or early 2000s.

There are no prospects for reopening Chervonyi Chaban Airfield for civilian use. Its future is entirely dependent on the outcome of the Russo-Ukrainian War. If the territory is liberated by Ukraine, the airfield might be maintained as a reserve military base or a forward arming and refueling point (FARP), but significant investment would be required to repair the extensive damage from both neglect and combat. If it remains under Russian control, it will continue to function as a military airbase for as long as it is strategically tenable.