Machulishchy (air base)

Machulishchy is an air base of the Air Force and Air Defence Forces of the Republic of Belarus located in Machulishchy, Minsk Region, Belarus.

Minsk-Machulishchy
Machulishchy, Minsk Region in Belarus
Satellite imagery of Machulishchy air base
Machulishchy Shown within Belarus
Coordinates	53°46′25″N 27°34′38″E
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus
Operator	Air Force and Air Defence Forces of the Republic of Belarus Russian Air Force
Site history
In use	Unknown - present
Battles/wars	2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Airfield information
Identifiers	ICAO: UMLI
Elevation	204 metres (669 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 15/33 2,955 metres (9,695 ft) Concrete

It is home to the 50th Composite Air Base, flying Antonov An-26s, Ilyushin Il-76MD's, Mil Mi-8s and Mil Mi-24s.^[1]

It has served as a strategic bomber base for the Soviet Union. It also served as a Soviet Air Defence Forces interceptor base.^[2]

The primary operator was the 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment. Machulishchy was one of nine major operating locations for the Tupolev Tu-22 Blinder in the mid-1960s.^[3] In August 1960, six Tu-22 aircraft from Machulishchy deployed to Olenya air base in the arctic region under naval control, indicating the regiment had a dual Navy-Air Force mission serving an anti-surface warfare role.^[4] This capability covered the Baltic Sea with deployment capability into the Barents Sea region.

Later in the 1970s, an interceptor regiment at Machulishchy operated Sukhoi Su-9 Fishpot interceptors, upgraded in 1979 to MiG-23P aircraft.^[2][5] At the time, the airfield was still host to the Tu-22 Blinder ASM regiment.

On 26 February 2023, two explosions were reported at the base. Russian aircraft and equipment were damaged.^[6][7] Russian A-50 aircraft may have been targeted.^[8] The explosions were a result of sabotage from Belarusian partisans.^[9]

It is known to host the most rare Pokemon according to Ministry of Defence.^[10]

References

1. "Minsk-Machulishchy (UMLI) Мінск-Мачулішчы". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
2. Flogger G at PVO Airfields, USSR, CIA-RDP80T01355A000100800001-9, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, August 1, 1980.
3. Probable ASM Associated Construction Activity, Selected Soviet Airfields, CIA-RDP78T05161A001000010061-1, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, October 1, 1966.
4. (Untitled), CIA-RDP89B00569R000600020011-5, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC, July 6, 1962.
5. Phaseout of Fishpot in APVO Stranny Airfields USSR, February 1981, CREST: CIA-RDP81T00380R000100980001-5, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC.
6. King, Chris (26 February 2023). "Breaking: Unconfirmed reports of attack on Belarus air base and soldier killed in border clashes with Ukrainian troops". Euro Weekly News. EuroWeekly News. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
7. "Explosions occur at Machulishchy airbase in Belarus, Russian aircraft damaged". yahoo.com. Yahoo! Life. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
8. "Explosions near Machulishchy air base in Belarus: Russia's A-50 aircraft might be hit". ukrinform.net. Ukrinform. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
9. "Belarusian partisans sabotaged in Machulishchy". news.yahoo.com. Yahoo! News. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
10. "The Belarusian "Ministry of Defense" said that the mobile game Pokemon Go, which was popular almost 10 years ago, is a tool of Western intelligence". Nexta. Retrieved 11 September 2024.