Lebedyn Air Base

The air base was closed as a result of large-scale military downsizing and restructuring of the Ukrainian Air Force following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The primary aviation regiment stationed there was disbanded, and its aircraft, primarily Sukhoi Su-17 fighter-bombers, were retired from service due to economic constraints, operational costs, and obsolescence. The closure was part of a broader trend of abandoning numerous Soviet-era military installations across Ukraine.

The air base is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced decay. Satellite imagery shows a crumbling main runway, extensive taxiways, and numerous hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) that are derelict and overgrown with vegetation. Much of the concrete and other salvageable materials have been progressively dismantled by locals over the years. The site is inactive and not used for any official military or civilian purpose. It stands as a relic of the Cold War era.

Lebedyn Air Base was a significant Soviet Air Forces tactical airfield located within the Kyiv Military District. Its primary tenant for many years was the 806th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (806th APIB), which was part of the 17th Air Army. The regiment operated various aircraft throughout its history, including the MiG-17, Su-7, and most notably the Sukhoi Su-17M3 'Fitter-H'. These aircraft were designed for ground-attack and tactical bombing missions. After the collapse of the USSR, the regiment and its assets were transferred to the newly formed Ukrainian Air Force. In its final years, the base also housed a training squadron flying Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainers before it was ultimately disbanded and the base was abandoned.

There are no known or credible plans to reopen or restore Lebedyn Air Base. The infrastructure is in a state of ruin, and the cost of clearing, repairing the runway, and modernizing the facilities to current standards would be exceptionally high. Given Ukraine's existing network of active military airfields and the immense financial burden of such a project, the reopening of Lebedyn is considered highly improbable.