Velyka Krucha Air Base

The closure was a direct result of Ukraine's post-Soviet denuclearization policy. After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine inherited a large fleet of strategic nuclear-capable bombers. Under international agreements, including the START I treaty and the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, Ukraine agreed to destroy these aircraft. The base's primary function was to host these bombers, so with the elimination of its aircraft, the base was decommissioned due to its strategic mission becoming obsolete and the high economic cost of maintaining such a facility.

The air base is currently abandoned and derelict. The extensive runway, taxiways, and aircraft hardstands are still clearly visible from satellite imagery but are in a severe state of disrepair, with cracked concrete and significant vegetation overgrowth. Most of the support buildings, hangars, and barracks are in ruins or have been scavenged for materials. The site is not used for any official purpose and has become a popular spot for urban explorers, photographers, and occasional informal events like amateur car racing or drifting on the decaying concrete surfaces. It has no aviation infrastructure or function remaining.

Velyka Krucha was a highly significant Cold War strategic air base for the Soviet Long-Range Aviation (Дальняя авиация). It was the home of the 185th Guards 'Kirovohrad-Budapest' Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment (185 GvTBAP). The base was a forward operating location for a fleet of nuclear-capable strategic bombers. Key aircraft stationed here over the years included the Tupolev Tu-16 'Badger', the Tu-22 'Blinder', and most notably, the supersonic Tu-22M2 and Tu-22M3 'Backfire' bombers. These aircraft and their crews were a core component of the Soviet Union's nuclear triad, tasked with striking high-value NATO targets in Europe and the North Atlantic in the event of a conflict. After 1991, the base and its regiment were transferred to the newly independent Ukrainian Air Force before being dismantled.

There are no known or publicly discussed plans to reopen or redevelop Velyka Krucha Air Base. The cost to restore the runway and infrastructure to modern operational standards for either military or civilian use would be immense. Given the extensive damage, environmental cleanup requirements, and the existence of other operational airfields in Ukraine, the prospect of its reopening is considered extremely low to non-existent.