Russian Defense Ministry: Belbek Airport in Crimea ready to accept all types of aircraft
The new runway at the Belbek Airport in Crimea is ready to receive civilian and military planes, the Russian Defense Ministry reported, citing Viktor Sevostyanov, Commander of the 4th Army Air Force and Anti-Air Defense.
“The reconstruction of this airport has been effectively completed. Today we made the first technical route with two planes, and looked at the condition of the runway. There is still work to do, and the work is underway. But initially the conclusion is made that the airport is ready to accept all types of aircraft,” the Russian Defense Ministry website cites Sevostyanov as saying.
According to him, the Belbek Airport has a dual purpose, which includes receiving civilian planes.
“In the condition it was in a year ago, it was unable to receive all types of aircraft for a number of reasons. And so the decision was made to rebuild it. Our esteemed builders have made a wonderful airport, which will subsequently be needed by all the peninsula’s inhabitants and the guests who will fly to Crimea and Sevastopol,” Sevostyanov said.
As reported, the first phase of construction at the airport has been completed: a new 3,450 meter runway, taxiways, parking areas for aircraft, and special purpose areas.
Two days ago, more than a dozen Russian Su-27 and Su-30 fighter jets were moved to the Belbek Airport.
On November 30, the Ukrainian Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Territories and IDPs showed from satellite images that there were 24 Russian fighters parked at the Belbek Airport.
At present, the airport, which lies to the north-west of Sevastopol, is only used by Russian military aircraft, but there are plans to use it for civilian flights after the upgrades.
The Russian government plans to start using the airport for the new purposes in 2020. Before the annexation of Crimea, the airport belonged to the Ukrainian businessman Ihor Kolomoyskyi, but it was subsequently “nationalized” by the Kremlin-controlled Crimean authorities.