Vasylkiv Air Base
{{Short description|Ukrainian Air Force}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Vasylkiv
| ensign = Ensign of the Ukrainian Air Force.svg
| ensign_size = 100px
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| location = Vasylkiv, Kyiv Oblast
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| country = Ukraine
| image = 250px
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| coordinates = {{Coord|50|14|0|N|030|18|0|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = Ukraine Kyiv Oblast#Ukraine
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Ukraine
| pushpin_label = Vasylkiv
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| ownership = Ministry of Defence
| operator = Ukrainian Air Force
| controlledby = Air Command Central
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| built = {{Start date|1938}} (commissioned)
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| fate = working
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| battles = 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
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| ICAO = UKKW
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| elevation = {{Convert|205|m|0}}
| r1-number = 13/31
| r1-length = {{Convert|2465|m|0}}
| r1-surface = Concrete
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Vasylkiv (also Vasyl'kiv) was an air base of the Ukrainian Air Force located near Vasylkiv, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine. The base was home to the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade.{{cite web|url=https://scramble.nl/planning/orbats/ukraine/ukraine-air-force#UKKW487|title=Ukraine Air Force|publisher=Scramble.nl|access-date=26 February 2022}}
History
On the beginning of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, the airfield was host to the 36th Fighter Aviation Division of the Air Defence Forces, comprising the 2nd, 43rd, 254th, and 255th Fighter Aviation Regiments.{{Cite web |title=Состав и дислокация авиационных корпусов, дивизий и бригад ВВС Красной Армии на 22 июня 1941 г. |url=https://www.soldat.ru/force/sssr/t/table8.html |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=www.soldat.ru}}, based upon Калашников К.А., Феськов В.И., Чмыхало А.Ю., Голиков В.И. "Красная Армия в июне 1941 года (статистический сборник)". - Томск: Изд-во Том. ун-та, 2001. - 200 с.
Units stationed at Vasylkiv included the 146th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (146 Gv IAP) flying 41 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25PD aircraft.{{cite web| title = Aviatsiya PVO | publisher = Aviabaza KPOI | url = http://airbase.ru/squad/russia/avpvo/}} The regiment arrived at the base in 1950. The regiment was subordinate to the 19th Air Defence Division, which was reorganised as the 49th Air Defence Corps in June 1989. Both formations were part of the 8th Air Defence Army. The regiment was taken over by Ukraine on 1 June 1992 and then disbanded 1 June 1993.Michael Holm, [http://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/iap/146gviap.htm 146th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment], accessed December 2012.
The 92nd Red Banner Fighter Aviation Regiment arrived from Mukachevo (air base) in 1993, and was briefly stationed at the base before disbanding in 1994. The regiment was flying Mikoyan MiG-29s at the time.Michael Holm, [http://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/iap/92iap.htm], accessed December 2012.
The air base was the focus of fighting during the Battle of Vasylkiv, part of the Kyiv offensive in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. It was damaged on 12 March 2022 along with its airstrip after Russian missile strikes.{{cite news|url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/811960.html|title=Airport completely destroyed due to missile attacks by invader in Vasylkiv, Kyiv region – mayor|work=Interfax-Ukraine|date=12 March 2022|accessdate=12 March 2022}}
Aircraft
According to Google Earth imagery, as of March 3, 2020{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=March 2022}}
- 35 MiG-29
- 4 L-39 Albatros
References
{{reflist}}
Category:1938 establishments in Ukraine
Category:2022 disestablishments in Ukraine
Category:Defunct airports in Ukraine
Category:Soviet military air bases in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
Category:Soviet Air Defence Force bases
Category:Former military air bases in Ukraine
Category:Buildings and structures destroyed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine