Frumushyka Airstrip

The airstrip was not closed due to economic reasons, accidents, or specific local issues. Its closure was a direct result of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, Ukraine closed its entire airspace to all civilian air traffic under martial law for national security reasons. This de facto closure applies to all airports and airstrips in the country, including Frumushyka.

The physical airstrip infrastructure (a grass/dirt runway) remains in place as part of the Frumushyka-Nova complex. However, it is completely non-operational and legally unusable for any flights due to the ongoing nationwide airspace closure. The Odesa region, where it is located, remains an active area of conflict, making any aviation activity impossible and dangerous. The tourist complex itself has been severely impacted by the war, shifting focus to humanitarian aid and facing significant challenges.

Frumushyka Airstrip is not a historical Soviet or commercial airport. It is a modern, private airfield constructed in the mid-2000s. Its significance is tied directly to the unique 'Frumushyka-Nova' Center for Ethnographic and Green Tourism, which it serves. The entire complex, including the airstrip, was built on the site of a massive, abandoned Soviet-era military artillery range and the former Bessarabian village of Frumushyka-Nova, which was cleared in 1946 to create the military zone. When active, the unpaved airstrip handled light general aviation aircraft, such as An-2s, Cessnas, and ultralights, catering to private pilots and tourists flying in to visit the complex, its winery, and the sheep farm.

The reopening of Frumushyka Airstrip is entirely contingent upon the conclusion of the war in Ukraine and the official reopening of the country's airspace to civil aviation by the state authorities. There are no specific, independent plans for its reopening. However, given that the airstrip is an integral part of the Frumushyka-Nova tourist business model, it is highly probable that its owners will seek to resume operations for private and tourist flights as soon as it is safe and legally permissible to do so.