Ostrov (air base)

Ostrov (also given as Gorokhovka or Kildin) is an air base in Pskov Oblast, Russia located 7 km southeast of Ostrov and 57 km south of Pskov. It was a nuclear bomber facility with 15 very large revetments on the east side of the airfield and about 30 small revetments on the west side. As many as 63 Tupolev Tu-16s were based here. It currently hosts the Russian Navy's 444th Center for Combat Employment and Retraining of Personnel Naval Aviation.

In 1953 the 12th Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, part of the 116th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division (LRA), arrived from Tartu in the Estonian SSR. In 1960 it was transferred to the Baltic Fleet and the Navy and retitled the 12th Naval Missile-carrying Aviation Regiment (12 MRAP). Briefly under the control of the 57th Maritime Torpedo Aviation Division Long-Range, it was subordinated directly to the Baltic Fleet in 1961. It flew Tupolev Tu-16Ks and Tu-16Zs throughout the 1960s to 1980s. It was disbanded on 29 December 1989.

The 240 Gv MRAP (240th Naval Missile-carrying Regiment) flying Tupolev Tu-16, active for many years, was disbanded in 1991. It was reformed in 1995 as the 240th Guards Research-Instructor Mixed Aviation Regiment, subordinate to the 444th Center. From 1995 it flew the Sukhoi Su-24 and Tupolev Tu-22M3s. Also at the base was the 5501 BKhu (5501st Aviation Equipment Disposal Base) with 74 probably-scrapped Tupolev Tu-16 aircraft in 1992).