Maladzyechna

54°14'54"N 026°52'18"E

Former runway: 04/22 - 2400m X 40m

Actual runway: 04/22 - 720m X 40m - grass

Maladzyechna airfield (Russian: Молодеченское, also known as Molodechno and Hozhevo) is a dispersed airfield 58 km northwest of Minsk (ICAO: BY-1210 ).
It was known as a 1960s-era attack or interceptor base. Wikipedia claims that towards the end of the Cold War it was plowed under for farmland, but the Soviet Union was known to use a lot of semi unprepared grass airstrips, even for their heavy bomber force. This airfield is likely one of those airstrips.

The geometry of the airfield became visible on Google Earth imagery that was shot in 2005. A small propeller airplane is visible, leading to the suggestion that the airfield has remained as a minor airstrip. Photos oublished on the internet reavealed something different however: the airfield is still state owned and being used by the Belorussioan forrestry service.


Maladzyechna airfield, photographed in 2005 (Google Earth).


A Yak-12 is undergoing maintenance at the airfield in April 2011 (Kotolet on Panoramio)


Molodechno office of the forest protection department air service in Juni 2011 (Владимир_37, on Panoramio)

Maladzyechna airfield, photographed in 2021 (Google Earth).