Polonne Airstrip

Military restructuring and economic factors following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The air base was home to a Soviet Air Force regiment that was disbanded after Ukraine gained independence. The newly formed Ukrainian Armed Forces undertook a massive downsizing, and maintaining the vast number of inherited Soviet-era airfields was not economically feasible. Polonne was one of many deemed redundant and was subsequently abandoned.

The airfield is completely abandoned and in a state of advanced decay. Satellite imagery and local reports confirm that the main runway, taxiways, and aircraft dispersal hardstands are still visible but are severely broken, overgrown with grass and trees, and unusable for any aviation purposes. Many of the concrete slabs from the runway and taxiways have been dismantled and removed by locals for use as building materials. The technical buildings, barracks, and hangars are largely in ruins, though some structures may be used for informal storage or by local agricultural enterprises. The site is effectively a 'ghost airfield', a relic of the Cold War.

During the Cold War, Polonne was a significant forward operating base for the Soviet Air Force. It was not a civilian airstrip but a military air base. Its primary role was hosting fighter aircraft of the Carpathian Military District. The most notable unit stationed here was the 85th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (85 GvIAP). This regiment operated various fighter aircraft over the years, including the MiG-23 'Flogger' and, in its final years, the advanced MiG-29 'Fulcrum'. The base and its resident regiment were a key part of the Soviet air power structure facing NATO in Central Europe.

There are no known or credible plans to reopen the Polonne airfield. The cost of restoring the runway and all associated infrastructure to operational standards would be immense. Ukraine has other active and better-preserved airfields that would be prioritized for any military or civilian aviation development. Given its current derelict state and the ongoing geopolitical situation, the prospects for reopening are considered to be non-existent.