Being below rwy-elevation could also count for some comm-problems (line of sight?).
Another question: The airfield looks like a unused junkyard with no operational aircraft. For an active military airfield there should be more trucks, more cars and more logistic visible.
Could it be, that it was just only opened for the very purpose of bringing the polish delegation to smolensk without having to use a public airfield?
And how would this inflict safety- hazards concerning equipment like Radar, radios, approach-lighting?
franzl