Popilnia Airbase

The airbase was closed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The resident military unit, the 894th Fighter Aviation Regiment, was disbanded as part of the large-scale military reorganization and downsizing of the newly independent Ukrainian Armed Forces. Economic constraints and the reduced strategic need for such a large number of airbases after the Cold War were the primary drivers for its closure.

The site is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced decay. The main runway, taxiways, and hardened aircraft shelters are derelict. Many of the concrete slabs from the runway and taxiways have been removed over the years, likely for use as local building materials, rendering the airfield unusable. The remaining garrison buildings are in ruins. The area is sometimes visited by urban explorers but has no official function.

Popilnia Airbase was a significant Soviet Air Defence Forces (PVO) base during the Cold War. It was home to the 894th Fighter Aviation Regiment (894 IAP), which was part of the 8th Air Defence Army. The regiment's primary mission was air defense for the western regions of the USSR. Over its history, the base operated various interceptor aircraft, including the MiG-17, Yak-28P, and most notably, the variable-geometry MiG-23ML/MLD 'Flogger-G/K'. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the base and its regiment were briefly transferred to the Ukrainian Air Force before being decommissioned.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Popilnia Airbase. The extensive damage and decay of the infrastructure, including the dismantled runway, would make any restoration prohibitively expensive. Given Ukraine's current strategic and economic priorities, resources are focused on maintaining and protecting existing operational military facilities. The reopening of this defunct Cold War-era base is considered highly improbable.