Belbek Air Base

Sevastopol International Airport "Belbek" is a military airfield located near the village Fruktove, close to Sevastopol, Crimea. It has been used for military purposes since 1941. Initially built without a hardened runway, a concrete runway was constructed after World War II. In 1947, the Black Sea Fleet's 62nd Fighter Aviation Regiment arrived at the base, which was transferred to the Soviet Air Defence Forces in 1960. During the late 1980s, the airfield was significantly improved for presidential travel.

Following Ukrainian independence in 1991, the airfield was under Ukrainian military control. From 2002 to 2007, it also operated for civil aviation as Sevastopol International Airport Belbek. During this period, the 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade, flying MiG-29s, was based there until 2014. After the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014, the base has been operated by the Russian Ministry of Defence. A 38th Fighter Aviation Regiment, flying Sukhoi Su-27s and Sukhoi Su-30s, was established at Belbek but was reportedly withdrawn at the end of 2022 after a series of explosions. Since April 2022, the 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Russian Air Force, flying Sukhoi Su-35S aircraft, has been deployed at the base. NASA FIRMS imagery indicates that runway 07L/25R has been extended to 3.45 km. The base has been involved in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, including a reported missile strike in May 2024.