Fighting for the Donetsk airport losses. Donetsk airport is a bloody mixture of lies and heroism
Original taken from tipaeto to Donetsk Airport. A story of courage and betrayal.
The pride of Donetsk, the “air gate” of the city now looks like a pile of poorly burned street garbage, leaking plastic, smoked aluminum and sluggish smoke. Everything that could burn in the new terminal has already burned.
<Первый раз аэропорт пытались взять еще в апреле, мирно, с помощью безоружного восставшего народа, путем переговоров. На следующий день переговорщики были арестованы на улицах Донецка сотрудниками СБУ. The second assault on May 26 was bloody. The militia lost about 40 fighters. According to military science, the more assaults an object repels, the more difficult it is to take it later. Slavyansk confirmed this axiom. For several months, no one needed the airport - there were enough worries on other fronts. K But the airport still had to be dealt with - for political reasons.
The airport is not even a thorn. This is a big headache that cannot be solved with a simple attack. But it doesn’t seem possible to solve it quickly and efficiently now.
And even now, militias are fighting to the death in the twisted structures, although according to diplomatic papers it should be very quiet here.
The fighting for the Donetsk airport, part of the territory of which continues to be held by a large group of Kyiv security forces, has been going on for five months. On October 3, the DPR militia announced that they had taken control of the facility, but fierce fighting on its territory is still ongoing. The militias have repeatedly stated that the Donetsk airport is a point of special strategic importance, not only as a transport hub. >Donetsk Airport named after S.S. Prokofiev
The airfield in the city of Stalino was built on blood. The first bulldozers began leveling the area for the runway in 1933 - the hungriest year in the history of Ukraine. Even Russian historians who argue about Stalin’s guilt do not deny the very fact of the famine. First passenger aircraft We flew from Donetsk all the way to Starobelsk, a city in the Lugansk region, located 160 km from the airport.
1930s
July 27, 1931 By resolution of the Stalin City Council, the land department and the municipal services department were instructed to determine the territory for the construction of an airfield civil aviation in Stalino.
1933 Stalino airport was founded. In the same year, the first Aeroflot flight was organized on the route Stalino - Starobelsk. X.
Stalin airport. 1930s 
On June 23, 1941, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR approved the “Regulations on the Main Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet (civilian air fleet) on war time" All personnel The Civil Air Fleet was drafted into the Red Army. The flight technical personnel became part of the 87th Guards Separate Stalinist Civil Aviation Regiment.
944 After the liberation of Donbass, the airport began work on air transportation of passengers, cargo and the production of aerial chemical works. 1950s In 1952, a squadron of Li-2 heavy aircraft was organized at the airport. In January 1957, a new air terminal designed by architect V. Solovyov, with a capacity of 100 passengers/hour, opened its doors to passengers. In 1961, the Stalino airport (like the city) was renamed Donetsk. Early 1950s 
The rapid development of the airline occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the operation of the An-24, An-10, and Il-18 aircraft began. 
In 1982, until the 1990s, on October 11, 1991, the Donetsk United Aviation Squadron was renamed the Donetsk Aviation Enterprise. In 2003, the enterprise was reorganized by dividing the airline (Donbassaero) and the airport, on the basis of which the Municipal Enterprise “Donetsk International Airport” was formed. In accordance with the program for preparing Donetsk for Euro 2012, in 2011, a Ukrainian construction company began construction of a new airport terminal, the design of which was developed specialists from Croatia. Airport project 
g. Based on the decision of the Donetsk Regional Council dated November 24, 2011 No. 6/7-169, the municipal enterprise “Donetsk International Airport” was named after the famous composer Sergei Sergeevich Prokofiev. From that moment on, the airport began to be officially called the Municipal Enterprise “Donetsk International Airport named after S.S. Prokofiev”. On May 14, 2012, a new seven-story terminal with a capacity of 3,100 passengers per hour was opened at Donetsk airport. 
Chronicle of events around Donetsk airport
On April 17, a group of citizens with the flag of Novorossiya came to the airport, as they approached, snipers appeared on the roofs of the terminals, and someone’s private jet took off from the runway. The conversation with the airport authorities did not work out; the SBU officers refused to communicate. It was not possible to resolve the matter peacefully; the airport began to be filled with military personnel, special forces, weapons and ammunition. Donetsk. 26 of May. Airport. Heroism and betrayal.
Based on materials from Anatoly “El Murid”,
. . Initially, our goal was to investigate the operation to seize the Donetsk airport on May 26, 2014, which resulted in the death of about 50 militiamen (not counting the losses of the relief detachments), most of whom were volunteers from Russia. . Russian volunteers. Volunteers from Crimea and Chechnya were added to three groups in the Rostov region. The total number of the combined detachment was 120 people. The command of the detachment, at the insistence of “Sergei Ivanovich”, was carried out by former officer Boris Sysenko, who in a critical situation removed himself from command of the detachment. On the night of May 24-25, the combined detachment moved towards Donetsk in 5 KAMAZ vehicles. The detachment was supposed to join the Vostok battalion and come under the command of Khodakovsky. 
Due to the lack of proper counterintelligence cover, the detachment already included at least one enemy intelligence officer on Russian territory. It turned out to be, as it turned out later, a fighter with the call sign “Schumacher”. . This man came along with the Crimean militias; he himself, in his words, comes from the Nikolaev region. He said that he did not serve in the military anywhere, but is on the territory of Ukraine under criminal investigation by order of the current Ukrainian government. I applied for the position of driver. Subsequently, in his backpack, which was accidentally opened (after the battle for the airport on May 26), the following characteristic items were found: 1) a walkie-talkie for communication with aviation, 2) an ICOM scanner, 3) an AK magazine, filled with tracers (one of the acceptable ways to “highlight” a target in battle - with tracers), 4) a 32 GB flash drive, on which in electronic format there were special instructions on conducting sabotage operations behind enemy lines, including instructions on adjusting artillery and aviation fire. Details are below. Perhaps he is still one of the “fighters” of the DPR militia and continues to conduct intelligence activities in the interests of the SBU. Close to “Schumacher” was a militiaman with the call sign “Odessa”, who may also be an agent of the SBU. Operation to “capture” the airport. The operation to seize the Donetsk airport was initially a crime because it contradicted the fundamentals of tactical operations. Its organization and planning was carried out by Khodakovsky, who declaratively prioritized the existence of certain informal agreements with representatives of the SBU and the command of a unit of the 3rd Special Forces Regiment (Kirovograd) guarding the airport. He tried his best to convince Boris Sysenko and the group commanders that these “agreements” existed. On the evening of May 25, a group of reconnaissance officers moved to the area of Donetsk airport. “Granit” and “Stary”, on the basis of agreements reached by Khodakovsky, met with the SBU officer who headed the security service of the international airport. The latter informed them of the situation in the airport area and showed them a diagram of the new terminal. Upon arrival at the headquarters, “Granit” and “Stary” went to a meeting, which was attended by Khodakovsky, Sysenko and other officers. This group of people, while planning an operation to seize a complex infrastructure facility, drank alcoholic beverages. The report of the commanders of the groups that carried out reconnaissance of the area was not heard to the end. The planning of the operation was based on dubious information, the validity of which Khodakovsky tried to convince the commanders. Firstly, he tried to convince everyone that the Kirovograd special forces, located in the area of the airport, due to certain “agreements” reached, would not open fire on the militias. Making the success of an operation dependent on agreements with the enemy is a sign of either betrayal or dementia. Secondly, by order of Khodakovsky, the groups that moved to the airport area did not take with them the MANPADS that were available. As he would later say in an interview with RIA-Novosti, the militias had MANPADS. Without the availability of air defense systems (at least portable ones such as Igla MANPADS), it is impossible to carry out an operation to capture operating airport. At the same time, the seizure of the terminal, which took place on May 26, 2014, could have only a vaguely understandable psychological effect. The militia had only one dummy MANPADS with them at the Donetsk airport. The operation began in the absence of full reconnaissance of the situation and with total misinformation on the part of its organizer. Around 2.00 On May 26, Khodakovsky gave the order to prepare to move part of the detachment to seize the airport. In his words, the main task of the detachment will be to “pose in front of journalists’ cameras,” since a 100% agreement was reached with the Kirovograd residents (3rd Special Forces Regiment) not to fire at each other. Around 3.00 a detachment of approximately 80 people moved to the airport to carry out the assigned task. The fighters partially occupied the building of the new airport terminal. The occupation of the airport terminal building took place without clashes. Around 7.00 Reinforcements moved to the terminal, which included, among other things, volunteers from Chechnya. Around 10.00 Khodakovsky completed negotiations with the command of the Kirovohrad special forces and, together with the fighters of the former Donetsk Alpha, left the airport. Direct command was further exercised by Boris Sysenko. After Khodakovsky’s departure, taking into account the reinforcements that arrived at 7.00, the number of militias occupying the airport was about 120 people. Further actions Kirovograd special forces were very different from the “agreements” that were communicated by Khodakovsky to the militia personnel. Ukrainian special forces positions were located in the old airport terminal building and in its surroundings. Without hiding and slowly, the Kirovograd residents began to equip firing positions to fire at the terminal occupied by the militia. We brought up mortars, established positions for the AGS-17 “Plamya”, and dispersed the snipers. Soon, PMC fighters were landed on the airport grounds and took up positions in the control tower and the surrounding area of the airport. At about 11.00, the enemy opened fire on the militias who occupied the airport. The air strike was carried out by Mi-24 helicopters and Su-25 attack aircraft, using NURS and automatic guns. PMC snipers opened fire with sniper weapons. In fact, Boris Sysenko, who was assigned to the groups to lead the operation, withdrew from command after realizing what had happened, sending the soldier to the duty-free store to buy alcohol. While the detachment was fighting, he was drinking alcohol, not having the necessary moral and psychological characteristics to organize defense. Instead of the easy capture promised by Khodakovsky, he led the detachment into a trap. Subsequently, the actual leadership of the detachments was carried out by group commanders, who acted for some time at their own discretion. Kirovograd special forces also opened fire with mortars, AGS-17 “Plamya”, machine guns and sniper weapons. Return fire was organized from equipped firing points. For this purpose, ATMs were even torn out and stacked in stacks to protect them from bullets and shrapnel. Then this became the basis for accusing the militia of looting, although the airport had been cleared by the Ukrainian military the day before. Some of the fighters, not knowing that the enemy would soon launch an air strike on the terminal, took up positions on the roof, placed firing points there, and brought up the AGS-17 “Plamya”. 
(Photo. "Gypsy" with AGS and "Mir" on the roof. "Gypsy" will soon receive a slight wound to the head as a result of an air strike on the terminal, but will remain in service. He will die in one of the KAMAZ vehicles during the breakthrough. "Mir" will die during the breakthrough, his body will lie under sniper fire for three days before the militia can take it away. 
When Ukrainian aviation began to attack them, the fighters began to retreat from the roof. The materials used in the construction of the airport, when hit by NURS, shells and mines, produced a huge number of additional destructive elements and provided very poor cover. The roof was strewn with gravel, which also acted as destructive elements when hit by shells. The first losses came from aircraft fire on the militias who had taken positions on the roof. The Chechens took the longest positions, trying to hide behind a smoke screen. This measure did not turn out to be very effective. Soon the detachment's losses amounted to two killed and several (one killed and almost all the wounded were from the Chechen detachment). Some of the existing electronically controlled doors were blocked (even though the power supply to the terminal was not interrupted). As a result, the withdrawal was carried out by creating an “artificial exit”. If everyone could get out at once, there might be fewer wounded. After part of the detachment retreated from the roof, the wounded and dead remained there. The wounded could not be rescued for a long time due to dense sniper fire, which was fired from the control tower. Everyone was pulled out later under heavy fire only on the third attempt. Aviation and artillery fire was very well adjusted. Negotiations between one of the spotters and the mortar gunners were intercepted through the Ukrainian radio that was given as a “gift.” (Photos of control room 1 and 2) 
The distance from the new terminal to the control tower, which dominates in height above all other buildings, was 960 meters. Despite the considerable distance, the sniper fire was very accurate. It was fired from a sniper weapon with a caliber of at least 12.7 mm (most likely an M-82 Barrett or similar rifles). To do this, the dense fire of PMC snipers had to be suppressed with something. Of the heavy weapons, the detachment had only one 82-mm mortar and one AGS-17 “Plamya”, which was lowered from the roof. The mines attached to the mortar did not have fuses (!!!), and therefore turned the much-needed means of fire support into a pile of iron. The militia had to work on the control tower from the AGS-17 “Flame”. The maximum firing range of an easel grenade launcher is 1700 m, but the aiming range is much less. The fire on the tower had to be adjusted for a long time from the second floor of the terminal until the first hits, which weakened the sniper fire. After that, they were able to take the wounded from the roof. At the same time, the Kirovograd residents were verbally ready to provide a corridor for the evacuation of the wounded. PMC snipers fired at both the militias and the Kirovograd special forces. This may have been due to poor coordination between the opponents, perhaps due to agreements reached on the evacuation of the wounded. As a result, the deputy commander of the Kirovograd soldiers actually gave the order to open fire from the ZU-23 at the control room, from where the snipers were working. One way or another, many militias were wounded by fire from Kirovograd. By this point in time, Donetsk already knew about the failure of the operation. An operation was hastily prepared to release the detachment that had occupied the airport. About 400-500 people took part in it. The main problem remained the lack of coordination and unified command. The fighting in the vicinity of the airport on May 26 was carried out by: 1) the Vostok battalion of Khodakovsky and a detachment of the former Donetsk Alpha, 2) Boroday’s fighters, 3) Zdrilyuk’s detachment, 4) Pushilin’s detachment, 5) Oplot. These units also suffered significant casualties from sniper fire, as well as possibly from friendly fire amid poor coordination. Snipers worked on almost all approaches to the airport: in the area of the METRO store (two mercenaries from the Baltic states were destroyed), from the side of SPARTAK (the sniper was working from a construction crane), from the side of the cemetery and runway, from one of the 9-story buildings on Stratonauts Street. What followed were openly provocative actions. "Iskra" received mobile communications an order (from someone!!!) to make a breakthrough, since the airport is surrounded by Ukrainian military. Don’t wait for the night and go out in small groups, but right now, before the “ring” is closed, load onto KAMAZ trucks and go out into the city, taking two killed and a few wounded. They will be provided with a corridor from the Donetsk side. In fact, there was a tight ring of encirclement only around the new terminal. On the territory of the airport, Kirovograd residents continued to fire at the militia, and there were PMC snipers in the vicinity. There were no significant enemy troops that tightly surrounded the airport. The militia were able to dive into only two KAMAZ vehicles; access to the other two was tightly blocked by sniper fire. That’s why KAMAZ trucks were loaded to the brim with people. Only the cover group remained at the airport. She will retreat later along the green line and will not suffer casualties. Around 18.30 two KAMAZ trucks made a breakout from the airport. Having received information that they were surrounded, the KAMAZs walked at full speed, the soldiers fired at everything that moved, and even rested. The initiator of this exit tactic was Iskra. Perhaps this played a tragic role when entering the city. The cover group advanced on foot through the greenery near 19.15-19.20
. She suffered no casualties and returned safely to Donetsk, which is additional evidence that there was no tight encirclement around the airport. When the groups made a “breakthrough”, Boris Sysenko remained in the cover group. He died of a heart attack on the eve of the group's retreat from the airport. Before breaking through into the greenery, the group had to overcome 300 meters under fire from snipers and machine guns. Shooting of KAMAZ vehicles with militias. At the entrance to Donetsk from the airport at that time, there were soldiers of the “Vostok” battalion concentrated in an ambush, numbering about 80 people from the 1st and 2nd bases of the battalion (the established name of the units) and other units of the militia. They received information that soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine were coming from the airport to break into Donetsk. The order was given to fire to kill. Two KAMAZ vehicles with militias leaving the airport were destroyed by soldiers of the Vostok battalion with heavy fire from small arms and grenade launchers. There were no Ukrainian special forces in the ambush; there was an order to open fire on their own soldiers. (Photo. Kamaz Kyiv Prospekt) 
The first KAMAZ was hit and overturned on Kievsky Prospekt near the Magnolia store. There were more survivors in it than in the second. The second KAMAZ was hit on the street. Stratonauts in the area of Putilovsky Bridge. When the KAMAZ was riddled and smashed, and the movement around them stopped, the Vostok fighters crawled closer and saw St. George’s ribbons on the corpses. The driver of the second KAMAZ received numerous wounds and blew himself up with a grenade. The second explosion was carried out by one of the wounded militiamen who remained conscious (he had fought in Afghanistan in the past). They thought that the fire was fired by Ukrainian soldiers. Of the 46 fighters traveling in two KAMAZ vehicles, 35 survived. A few days after the treacherous operation, volunteers from Chechnya left the DPR. Departure. After arriving at the base, the fighters who survived the breakout from the airport discovered strange facts. Personal property, as well as the remaining weapons of the victims, were stolen by the time they returned. AGS-17 “Flame”, traveling in one of the blown up KAMAZ trucks, soon surfaced in Pushilin’s detachment. The realization that they had been betrayed and sent by the command in the person of Khodakovsky to slaughter forced them to disperse throughout the city. Further more. Several fighters, camped on leave on the outskirts of Donetsk, were approached by “Schumacher” and “Odessa” (presumably spies). They checked on the soldiers in a friendly manner and urgently (ostensibly on orders) left for the location of the Vostok battalion. After some time, the attention of the militia was attracted by the crying of children and women’s cries of “Don’t shoot!” from the yard of a neighboring house. Jumping out into the bushes, they saw armed men in camouflage surrounding a neighboring house. The arriving Sonderkommando most likely confused the buildings in the dark. Most likely, their task was to clean up the surviving participants in the massacre. After this, the surviving soldiers had only one option - to leave Donetsk. We decided to break through to Bezler in Gorlovka. Some of the wounded who survived the massacre at the airport were able to be transported to Gorlovka in order to avoid “accidents.” New interesting details were also revealed there. It turns out that Bezler himself was preparing the operation to seize the Donetsk airport, developing it for five days, and conducting reconnaissance. The enemy became aware of this; most likely, Bezler also has Ukrainian agents working for him. Instead of an assault, they decided to make an “assault” on Khodakovsky, at the same time sending a special forces detachment of volunteers. People with experience in conducting special operations were thrown like infantry to treacherous execution. “Mole” with the call sign “Schumacher” was able to be identified by chance already from “Bes”. The militias who retreated to Gorlovka from Donetsk were able to organize the transportation of their belongings. By chance, as often happens, the transporters caught the Schumacher backpack. When they opened it, they discovered very interesting contents (see at the beginning). Further more - demands were received to return the backpack and its contents. There was a refusal. Betrayal. Why should what happened during the departure of the militia detachment from the Donetsk airport be considered precisely as a betrayal? In conditions of poor organization and chaos, losses from friendly fire in war are inevitable. The fact that this was precisely a betrayal, in addition to many other signs, is evidenced by the subsequent coverage of events. Look at this photo. (Photo. Corpses photo) 
The worst thing about it is not the pile of militias riddled with bullets and shrapnel, the worst thing is the lenses of professional cameras on the right. . For what? For the report. There is a strict rule - to hide your losses, especially - never show them in all the bloody details. conclusions Why do the leadership of Russian militia units arriving in the Southeast initially turn on traitors like Khodakovsky? Why are their provision and support so poorly organized? unacceptable. .
After the assault, the airport stopped working for its intended purpose. The militia made no further serious assault attempts.
10.julia.2014 Militias have encircled the airport in Donetsk
The army of the Donetsk People's Republic surrounded the airport named after Sergei Prokofiev. The Vostok battalion conducted an reconnaissance operation, which showed that the Ukrainian military continues to control the airport territory and is at the same time blocked there. The soldiers may try to break through towards the village of Karlovka, and the task of the militia is to prevent this.The intensity of hostilities increased on August 10, and began in full force on the morning of August 24. Offers to surrender and irregular shelling followed. The special forces responded with dense, targeted fire. The Kirovograd group was reinforced by other troops.The DPR militia began shelling the airport with artillery on August 20. Until this date, fire was directed at Marinka and Avdiivka, the largest populated areas controlled by Ukrainian troops near Donetsk. After this date, the shelling did not stop.
First full-scale assault
The first serious assault on the airport took place on the night of September 1, simultaneously with the attack on Lugansk airport.
Artillery, mortars, and rocket launchers were in use. Tanks and other armored vehicles were used. But the defenders managed to repel this attempt, like all the others.
Other attempts
The DPR announced assault attempts on September 28, October 2, 3 and 6. After which they announced the capture of the airport. In fact, assault attempts were made every day, starting from the first of September. 
Infographics detailed plan of Donetsk Prokofiev Airport
1 - Monastery; 2 - Metro Supermarket; 3 - Toyon/Lexus Auto Center; 4 - New terminal; 5 - Bus station; 6 - Oil depot; 7 - Cemetery of old aircraft; 8 - VIP terminal under construction; 9 - Hangars; 10 - Control tower (located outside the plan); 11 - Old terminal; 12 - Operating VIP terminal; 13 - Donbassaero Control Center; 14 - Hotel "Polet"; 15 - Civil Aviation Headquarters; 16 - Aviation repair center; 17 - Boiler room; 18 - Command and control tower.
Objects not related to airport infrastructure are circled blue outline.
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Donetsk airport
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byword. He doesn’t want to disappear from the reports. I asked several questions on this topic to knowledgeable people from the DPR. This is the picture we got.
Givi and Motorola commanders of the Somalia and Sparta detachments And many others
Bridgehead for the attack on Donetsk
If you think that a narrow strip of bare land decides anything in modern warfare, you should at least read a little, even the simplest military literature. This version is for the little ones: Why Donetsk Airport is really needed. Both sides need the airport to demonstrate their victory in the conditions of a truce. The last word is remembered, each side wants to leave the last military victory for itself. This is very important for the masses; the airport will go down in history for centuries. This fact alone justifies all the sacrifices of the heroes. All other reasons are just dirt that it’s better not to even know. Elections must be held both in Ukraine and in new states. Therefore, no one wants to completely stop hostilities. After all, war is such a good distraction from other problems; even a small military victory raises ratings better than thousands of billboards and commercials. Here the opinions of the parties converge - for everyone, the airport is like a small theater on which the war is played out for news releases. Former Minister of Defense of Donetsk people's republic Igor Strelkov explained why the militias have not yet managed to take Donetsk airport. According to Strelkov, the difficulty lies in the fact that the punishers are not holed up in civilian buildings, but in an air defense unit where a bunker is equipped that is designed to carry out a nuclear strike. This was told by KP military correspondent Dmitry Steshin, who spoke with the commander. In this regard, it becomes clear why artillery strikes do not cause critical damage to the enemy - soldiers and armored vehicles on the surface are destroyed. Moreover, Strelkov notes, the Ukrainian army performs well in defense. These are Russians, the commander stated.
Image copyright Getty Image caption The new terminal of Donetsk airport was protected for 240 days
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine confirmed that the “cyborgs” withdrew from the ruins of the new terminal with losses.
The defense of Donetsk airport, or rather its old and new terminals, lasted from May 26 - about 240 days.
However, the Ministry of Defense says, Ukrainian forces are still protecting part of the airport buildings and nearby villages, so it is impossible to talk about the final loss of the facility - the fighting there continues.
Start of fighting
On the night of May 26, 2014, a group of pro-Russian separatists, on their second attempt, occupied part of the airport buildings, which suspended air traffic on May 6.
The militants demanded that the Ukrainian military, located in the old airport terminal, lay down their arms and surrender. The government, instead, issued an ultimatum for the separatists to lay down their arms and vacate administrative buildings.
Image copyright AFP Image caption This is what Donetsk airport looked like at the end of MayThe demands of both sides remained unanswered, and the battle began.
“On May 26, army special forces units, with the support of military aviation, struck terrorists who were trying to take control international Airport Donetsk. Attack and army aviation were involved, and an airborne landing was carried out. Ukrainian units acted quickly and effectively - about 45 militants were killed and several dozen more were wounded. A third of the Vostok battalion was destroyed by ATO forces. Panic began in the ranks of the militants, and some terrorist leaders hastily left the city. Ukrainian units have established a foothold in the area of the airport,” the NSDC media center reported.
It was then that the episode with the shot trucks transporting fighters of the so-called “DPR” occurred.
Strategic object
Image copyright APFor a long time, the situation around the airport remained relatively calm. Serious assaults on the strategic facility began after the conclusion of the Minsk agreements in September 2014.
These agreements, in particular, provide for “the stop of units and military formations of the parties on the line of contact as of September 19, 2014” and the withdrawal of heavy weapons 15 km from this line. The actual fulfillment of these conditions would mean that the separatists must liberate a significant part of Donetsk from weapons.
In order to gain an advantage in determining the distribution line near Donetsk, the separatists carried out constant attacks on the airport, the military says.
“The Donetsk airport, together with the adjacent heights, which are under the control of Ukrainian forces, is a springboard for further offensive by the separatists... When creating a buffer zone, the separatists will actually have to retreat to another outskirts of Donetsk,” noted the speaker of the DUK “Right Sector” on January 16 Andrey Sharaskin.
Image copyright GettyLater, the authorities of the self-proclaimed “DPR” and the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that “Donetsk airport, according to the Minsk agreements, should be transferred to the control of the militias.”
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied this. “There is not a word in the Minsk agreements about the Donetsk airport,” Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Yevgeniy Perebiynos said in a commentary to BBC Ukraine on January 19.
Ukrainian "cyborgs"
Image copyright GettyOver time, after many assaults, the airport also acquired symbolic significance. For Ukraine, this is evidence of the heroism of its fighters who successfully resist the powerful forces of the enemy. The airfield became the “Ukrainian Thermopylae” and the “Donbass Pavlov’s House”, and its defenders were called “cyborgs” by the enemy for their tenacity.
IN different time Fighters from the 95th and 79th airborne brigades, soldiers of the 3rd Kirovograd special forces regiment and the Dnepr-1 battalion, artillerymen and tank crews of the 93rd brigade, volunteers from the DUK "Right Sector" and the "Dnepr-1" battalion fought at the airport and adjacent Peski. OUN", military from other units.
Image copyright Gregory MustangFor the separatists, this was an irritant that needed to be eliminated.
“It has also become a fundamental issue for the separatists. Just as for us it is a symbol of heroism, it has also acquired fundamental significance in the eyes of the separatists,” noted Semyon Semenchenko, commander of the Donbass battalion, deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee on national security and defense.
Planes must fly from Donetsk airport. The main thing for the separatists is to record that they have an airport and planes supposedly take off from there. Alexey Melnik, military expert
At the same time, military experts did not exclude the use of the airport for its intended purpose (especially against the backdrop of statements about the “restoration of LPR aviation”), although given the destruction this is not worth it in the near future.
“Planes must fly from the Donetsk airport. The main thing for the separatists is to record that they have an airport and that planes supposedly take off from there,” Alexey Melnik, co-director of foreign policy and international security programs at the Center, told the Ukrainian Air Force in October. Razumkova.
Previously, the separatists had already captured the airport in Lugansk, although the runway there was also destroyed.
“Remember the Crimean events: the Russian troops that occupied Crimea, the first thing they did was capture all Crimean airfields. These are strategic objects, important communication centers. Just like large sea ports and railway junctions,” explained General Staff representative Vladislav Seleznev.
The end of defense?
Although attempts to take the airport by DPR forces did not stop throughout the fall and throughout December, especially brutal fighting here began after the New Year. On January 13, after several months of shelling, the tower where the Ukrainian flag was flying was destroyed.
Image copyright AFPThe “DPR” stated that Ukrainian forces were shelling residential areas of Donetsk from the airfield and from Peski. The separatists even said that they were ready to guarantee the safety of the “cyborgs” who agreed to peacefully withdraw from the airport.
However, the object’s defenders denied such accusations and did not agree to the proposals and ultimatums of their opponents.
The Ukrainian army responded powerfully to the assault attempts and managed to recapture some of the territories.
It was the panic of the separatists that the Ukrainian side explained the blowing up of the Putilov Bridge near Donetsk airport a few days ago. According to representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the “DPR” militants thus sought to protect themselves from the entry of ATO forces into Donetsk from the airport.
Separatists say the bridge was destroyed during a breakout attempt by the Ukrainian military.
However, on January 20 and 21, reports of killed and captured “cyborgs” began to appear. Stories about captured Ukrainian fighters appeared in the Russian media.
A few days before, the leaders of the “DPR” repeatedly announced the complete capture of the airport, which, however, was not true at that time.
Image copyright ReutersFinally, on January 22, the Ministry of Defense stated: “Yesterday, 20 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine fought out of the territory of the terminals, since their positions were destroyed and were under direct fire. 16 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were wounded during the battle and captured by terrorists. Within 24 hours, 6 Ukrainian servicemen were killed in the battles for the airport."
“Violent fighting continues near the Donetsk airport. The Ukrainian military, occupying advantageous positions, hold their positions, while simultaneously delivering artillery strikes on the attackers and their firepower,” the ATO said in a statement on Thursday, January 22, in the evening.
Was it necessary to fight?
The airport should have continued to be held, says Nikolai Voronin, who took part in the defense of the airfield as part of the 79th brigade.
Image copyright Getty Image caption The airport was shelled from artillery, Grads, mortars and tanks, snipers were working“This is a fortress of “Ukrainianness”. This is the facility where there were many enemy losses and relatively few of our losses,” he tells the Ukrainian Air Force and adds that he does not know any of the “cyborgs” who would advocate leaving the airport.
The Ministry of Defense notes that in both terminals there is not a single fortification left that would provide protection to the military from snipers and tanks.
Andrei Sharaskin, a fighter of the Right Sector DUK, generally considers the question of whether it was necessary to hold the airport for so long as rhetorical.
“The new terminal would have held out indefinitely if more reinforcements had arrived there on time, rather than 15 people at a time,” he says.
Andrei Sharaskin also notes that all the surroundings of the Donetsk airport, which were held by the ATO forces, remain with the Ukrainian soldiers: “Both volunteers and military personnel - everyone remains in their positions. We keep the direction.”
January 24, 2016
Battle for Donetsk airport. Unknown details of the most tragic special operation of the ATO
Battle for Donetsk airport. Unknown details of the most tragic special operation of the ATO.
“We hung over them like the sword of Damocles over their heads.”
This is how brigade commander of the 81st brigade Evgeniy Moisyuk recalls the last days of the defense of Donetsk airport. It was his team that was the last to leave the DAP at the end of January, when only fragments of drywall and broken glass. The airport is very close to Donetsk itself, so there is still fighting there.
“We still remain that sword,” says Moysyuk.
A year has passed since the events of last winter. The 242-day defense of the DAP remains one of the most tragic and heroic events of the ATO. However, even after a year, many questions remain regarding last days airport.
“Ukrainian Pravda” tried to recreate the honest history of the last months of the defense of the airport, talking with the participants in those events and the Chief of the General Staff Viktor Muzhenko.
A plan with many unknowns
Militants seized the Donetsk airport building on the night of May 25 and 26. However, just two days later, the Ukrainian military liberated the airport and took up defensive positions. Since then, the Ukrainian Armed Forces held the territory of the DAP for 242 days, until the buildings located on its territory were completely destroyed as a result of lengthy battles. The last month of defending the airport was especially grueling.
Under New Year the situation around the DAP worsened - despite the ceasefire, the militants did not give up attempts to drive the ATO forces out of the airport. They blocked the road to the terminal, making it difficult to deliver provisions and ammunition. On January 13, as a result of shelling, the control tower, which was depicted on numerous motivators and posters as a symbol of the confrontation between the Ukrainian military, collapsed.
Two days later, militant leader Alexander Zakharchenko boorishly poked his finger in the chest of a Ukrainian colonel and boasted that his thugs would take the airport in 30 minutes. Zakharchenko’s words turned out to be a bluff - the militants were unable to oust the Ukrainian military either after 30 minutes or after 24 hours. They managed to capture part of the DAP and block the fighters of the 81st brigade in the terminal only on January 18.
The ATO headquarters was forced to act in response. On the same day, a special operation unfolded around the DAP, which was developed to save the situation and the soldiers who were surrounded. If the special operation had been carried out, the terminal and the entire airport would have been behind the lines of our forces. The front line would move beyond the village of Spartak, which is almost in Donetsk, and below the airport terminals.
But almost nothing of what was planned worked out. Yes, the militants suffered constant losses. Yes, we managed to destroy the Putilovsky Bridge at the entrance to Donetsk. Yes, we took control of the village of Peski. And only on January 26, finally, the Dutovskaya mine.
But the Ukrainian forces were unable to implement other maneuvers - because of the fog, they lost their course, arrived at the place on time, and if they attacked successfully, they could not resist and retreated. Several unsuccessful attempts to advance forced the headquarters to abandon offensive operations.
Meanwhile, a bunch of brave “cyborgs” held the remains of the cardboard terminal - the enemy’s armor-piercing bullet pierced four walls at a time, due to constant shelling, the airport was virtually cut off from supplies of food and water, delivering any cargo to the territory was a risk to life. The militants also could not capture the rest of the airport - after many unsuccessful attempts to storm it, they simply decided to destroy it.
On January 19, militants blew up the building for the first time. According to the testimony of Ukrainian fighters, even then all the ceilings of the terminal fell into the basement, and the wave swept away all the barricades and shelters.
The fighters were expecting an attack by the militants, but it did not come. The tragic crown of the history of the defense of the DAP was the second super-powerful explosion, which on January 20 buried dozens of “cyborgs” under the rubble. According to the testimony of the fighters with whom the UP spoke, the militants used anti-ship mines to destroy the terminal completely.
The scout of the eighty-first brigade, Andrei Grechany, was among those who pulled the guys out from under the rubble, and when it got dark, he and another soldier went on foot to Peski to get transport to take out the wounded. Not everyone was saved.
Relatives of the fighters watched videos of the militants from the captured terminal in search of their relatives - among the prisoners and dead.
For several weeks after this, the bodies of “cyborgs” were pulled out from under the rubble. At least four of them blew themselves up with grenades to avoid surrendering alive. Their names are still unknown. On the day the terminal was blown up, at a distance of 800 meters to 2 kilometers from it, our sappers carried out a secret operation. There were 5 powerful explosions on the runway that put it out of action. This took about 7.5 tons of TNT.
Commander of the 1st battalion of the 79th brigade, full holder of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky. The first losses among his guys occurred on September 26. In December, he handed over the airport to the 81st brigade, which held it until the last minutes.
The most important question that concerns me regarding the DAP is “Why was Donetsk airport not initially considered as a defense springboard?”
After the first battle on May 26, 2014, no one improved the engineering barriers in it. Only in November we began to strengthen it - we brought sand in bags. It would have been possible to strengthen the DAP earlier, dig in in places, and bring concrete blocks. And in November, neither them nor the crane could be delivered.
It's hard to defend a glass building. Plasterboard crumbled, bullets flew through, columns ricocheted. We brought in sand until our dump truck was hit. For the militants, the DAP was a training ground; they trained there. And we defended every piece of land at the airport. This is why he was important to us. I think if there were no Donetsk airport, we would not be in Avdeevka, Kramatorsk and Slavyansk now.
I had to take over the defense in the fall. Nobody appointed me. When “Reduta” (commander of the 3rd Kirovograd special forces regiment, who led the defense of the airport since May 26, 2014 - UP) was wounded on October 4, I was already giving the commands - there were more of my people in the DAP, I was responsible for them.
Before the departure of “Redut” and his group, Donetsk airport was defended by about 200 people. There were 100 of mine. I couldn’t cover that volume. Started everything from scratch. They gave me artillery under my leadership, the 93rd brigade helped. DUK “Right Sector” was located in the old, new terminal, at a height. Representatives of Dnepr conducted aerial reconnaissance Donetsk airport.
We could not have done it without the volunteers who were in Donetsk itself. The 93rd Brigade connected me with the guys. Donetsk volunteers shared information about the militants, where and from where they were shooting. And we adjusted... I myself was three kilometers from the Donetsk airport in Tonenkoye. A small room with a radio station through which I kept in touch with the terminals. I lost the most people at the Donetsk airport - 15 soldiers from my unit.
The militants did not allow us to take the wounded. Once we agreed with Givi that we would pick up the wounded: “Now an armored personnel carrier with a red cross will arrive. We will take the wounded and dead.” “Yes, yes, yes, okay, we’ll let it pass,” he replied. We had a radio station tuned to their frequencies - we listened to them. And so he says to his people: “Now the “dill” will enter an armored personnel carrier with a red cross. So - he shouldn't come out. You have to destroy him completely.” He told us one thing, the same thing to the coordination center, and here on the radio station the third. In general, we sent not an armored personnel carrier, but a tank. He poured well where they were shooting at him.
During my time, they took control of Opytnoye and Vodyanoye - this was very important for control over the Donetsk airport. Could you have taken more? Let's look at things realistically. You won't be able to eat the whole cake - you won't be able to handle it. Just a piece or two that you can handle. For us it was a piece of Donetsk airport. We were replaced in December by the 81st Brigade, which held the terminal until the last days.
The commander of the 81st brigade, Colonel Yevgeny Moysyuk, took over all control. He had a lot of mobilized and few contract soldiers. Therefore, he selected the best. They prepared, they knew where they were going. I told them that they needed generators, warm clothes, and surveillance devices. At minus 20, you can’t stand on concrete at all, so the boards were brought in.”
Brigade commander of the 81st brigade, colonel, awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, III and II degrees. Since the end of November, he has been in charge of the defense of Donetsk airport. His fighters held the terminal until the last. “At some stage, the enemy realized that he would not be able to take the airport by storm, so they began to destroy it. At first we tried to expand control and neutralize the militants' direct fire at the terminal. On January 15, they tried to unblock the airport - to take the monastery near the terminals (from which militants fired at the ATO forces - UP) and recapture part of the territory. If we had taken it, we would have been able to easily provide the personnel at the airport with everything they needed.
During one of these attempts, I had to personally go there with the personnel of my 90th battalion and the 2nd battalion of the 93rd brigade, which did not know me. This was a combined detachment. I am a strange commander for them - they were unsure and hesitated. I had to say: “Who else do you need? I am an Airborne Colonel, brigade commander, performing the maximum task of a company commander and going with you. Who else should you invite - the president?”
Enemy tanks were hitting the terminal almost every hour, so we had to act as quickly as possible. There was no time to prepare. The bravest went there. But we didn't succeed. The enemy was able to restore fire from heavy machine guns. There were objective and subjective reasons. The detachment was consolidated.
After the first bombing of the terminal, we tried again to unblock the fighters and capture additional structures in order to expand the zone of influence. The unit that went to the terminal was led by a very brave man - the commander of the 90th battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Kuzminykh. But because of the fog, they made a mistake and, along with some of the soldiers, were captured.
The militants realized that they could not take the terminal, so they decided to wipe it off the face of the earth. After being released from captivity, “Rahman” said that the separatists brought very powerful anti-ship mines (their charge can be equivalent to from 400 kg to 1 ton of TNT - UP).
These mines were dropped from the top floor, which was controlled by the enemy. It's on our fighters' heads. One did not detonate, they threw the second, then both worked. At this time, I and other commanders were at the control center - in the basement in Vodyanoy (at least 6 km from the terminal - UP) and we were shaken violently there. Imagine how those who were in the terminal felt. The details of these explosions are still not fully known. But this clearly indicated that they would no longer storm it, but decided to destroy it.
Imagine a rectangular terminal building. It was crumbling from the shelling; they calmly climbed up those ruins. And ours are inside.
There is a brave soldier from the 90th Baht, call sign “North”, with a very strong will. He was the right hand deceased Hero Ukraine Ivan Ivanovich Zubkov. So he says that before this explosion there was relative peace in the terminal for two days. At that time we were attacking Spartak, Peski, advancing... Those one and a half to two days (18, 19 and the morning of January 20 - UP), while we were pressing from all sides, it was quiet in the terminal, they were able to rest, organize a defense system in a new way .
And although our attacks failed, the enemy decided that they could lose the airport. That's why I think they blew up the terminal. After the explosion, we had to take out the wounded and get people out. A group led by the chief of intelligence, Andrei Grechany with the call sign “Rakhman” (who, after the explosion, came on foot from the terminal for help. He rescued at least 20 fighters from the rubble - UP) went to the DAP in three MTLBs.
On the way back, “Rahman’s” car was hit, it overturned, and the driver died. “Rahman” had burns to his eyes, he was practically taken out of there, he didn’t see anything. Thus ended the last attempt to evacuate people from the terminal. Was it worth keeping the airport at all? Yes. Certainly.
For the enemy, it is like the sword of Damocles, which constantly hangs over him. DAP is almost Donetsk. When our tankers broke through to the Putilovsky Bridge, there was such a panic: “That’s it, dill is already in Donetsk!” We are still like that sword to them. That is why they are afraid of us and are constantly shelling our positions.
I arrived at the command post, from where we led the defense of the airport, on November 30. Then the 90th battalion of the 95th brigade was under my command and began to carry out tasks in the DAP. They were subsequently joined by the 3rd Battalion of the 80th Brigade (now the 122nd Battalion of the 81st Brigade).
Formally, the 93rd Brigade was responsible for the defense of the airport. But since there were more of our personnel, everything was directly supervised by the battalion commanders whose personnel were there.”
He was part of the group that blew up the airport runway. For the operation he received the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III degree. I was called to the airport area in December. Together with the colonel, I had to calculate how the Donetsk airport runway could be damaged in case the appropriate command was received.
The main goal is to cause such damage that even a military aircraft cannot land there. Why even? Because they need a very short distance to take off and land. For a month I scouted the situation in the DAP area, as I had to suggest how the task could be accomplished. I was in Peski, Vodyanoye, Tonenkoye, on a weather tower, on a high-rise building, on a tractor camp, where our guys stood. I went to places only for reconnaissance, sometimes I had to crawl on my bellies, sometimes I had to dash to the runway.
Then he took pieces of paper, made sketches, wrote down data, and made calculations. For this they gave me the call sign “Artist”. In the end, we decided to divide the strip into five segments, in each of which we carried out a detonation. The situation at the airport was heating up. The operation was scheduled for January 20. Up to 25 people were supposed to work on the takeoff, including five officers from the Mine Action Center and the Central Engineering Support Directorate.
Other fighters are from the 91st Engineer Regiment. The operation began early in the morning. However, at first we couldn’t even get onto the runway because of the heavy fire from the Grads - we had explosives in our cars. The operation was resumed almost overnight. Every leader must somehow support the guys. I cannot show that I myself am panicking and afraid. Getting into the car, he said: “Don’t worry. I promise you that you will come out alive and healthy. I brought you here, I will take you away from here.”
We had five cars, each with a trailer with explosives. The power of each device is 1.5 tons of TNT. We left in two ways - three groups in ZILs from Peski. And our two are perpendicular to the strip - from the side of the weather tower. We went to MTLB because more militants were concentrated in these places.
We were covered by tanks from the weather tower, supported from the terminal, and fired at the enemy from all possible points. Otherwise, we would not have been able to leave. We were accompanied by a brigade with two armored personnel carriers.
Eventually, we made it so that the strip could no longer function. The devices detonated 20-25 minutes later, when we had already reached Vodyanoye. After the explosions there was such silence, not a single shot for 5 minutes... and imagine, the blast wave could be heard 3 kilometers away.
Everyone was figuring out what happened, from which side what exploded. No one - neither ours nor the militants - could believe that someone was doing something on the strip. After all, our operation was secret and lasted about an hour and a half. Was I scared? Yes. Because there is only one life. I knew where I was going. Understand, if something had gone wrong, then all that would be left of us all would be ashes, there wouldn’t even be anything left for DNA analysis. So they would consider us missing.”
Responsible for overall coordination and management of the DAP operation in January 2015.
Why did you have to plan a special operation in the DAP?
In January the situation was more or less stable - a truce. But at that time it was difficult to hold the airport; it was completely destroyed. On January 15, Russian units and mercenaries violated this regime and began to storm the new terminal where our military were located. In order to hold it, it was necessary either to create the appropriate conditions - to go out on the flanks, unblock and take control of the entire DAP and the areas that are adjacent to it. Or take the defenders out of what's left of the terminal.
Was there a plan “B” or any other proposals for conducting the operation?
The option considered was to go on line railway behind the airport towards Donetsk. Then we would be doomed to conduct combat operations in urban areas - both during active offensive operations in order to reach the appropriate line, and while holding the line. We did not have enough forces and means to conduct combat operations in the city, to capture and hold such a site, so we abandoned this option.
I arrived at the command post of the 81st brigade in Vodyanoye on January 17th. I was going to stay there for a couple of days, but everything dragged on for 10 days. I was responsible for the issue of general coordination and general management. Already on the morning of January 18, we began active actions. Direct control of the Airborne Forces units was carried out by Colonel, and now Major General Mikhail Zabrodsky, the sector “B” group was led by General Igor Dovgan. The group included the 93rd brigade, led by Colonel, now Major General Oleg Mikats, part of the already transferred 30th brigade, led by Lieutenant Colonel Sergei Sobko.
The commanders developed the basic elements of the operation plan. We listened to them and decided to go to the line, take control of Veseloye, Zhabovo, Spartak and thus control the entire territory around the airport. On the afternoon of January 18, the attempt was unsuccessful, so it was decided to withdraw the defenders from the remains of the terminal. We also planned to use army attack aircraft, but, unfortunately, weather from January 18 to January 27 this opportunity was not given.
Why didn't you take into account the fog factor? There are forecasts from weather forecasters.
No one planned the operation three or four weeks before. A ceasefire was in effect. But the militants suddenly began to storm the DAP - we decided to respond adequately and also begin active actions. They acted according to the fact, in the conditions and weather that existed. We made appropriate decisions.
We did not have time to wait until it became sunny in 10 days - there was a difficult situation in the airport building: problems with rotation, with strengthening forces in the terminal, with their provision... To navigate in the fog, a map, a compass - a simple device and GPS were needed. Of course, not everyone had them. Was it possible to use them in a short-lived battle?
But it turned out that most of the planned operations could not be carried out.
A little different. We inflicted serious losses on the enemy and stopped their advance. But a number of tasks could not be completed. There were several reasons for this. The first is the lack of the required amount of forces and resources. There was also a shortage of mine clearing combat vehicles - there were only two of them. One of them was blown up. Although the other one worked, its crew, having survived 8 explosions, was no longer able to adequately respond to changes in the situation due to the resulting concussion. We have now decided that for each BIS we need to have at least three trained crews. The machine can still withstand it, but people cannot.
What happened in Spartak, why didn’t you manage to take it?
The tanks completed their task - they passed through this entire settlement to the Putilovsky Bridge, and actually entered Donetsk. They destroyed two militant tanks and an ammunition depot there. But they broke through at high speed. The militants cut off the paratroopers with fire, and they stopped in front of Spartak. Not seeing any infantry behind them, the tanks returned to their original position. And then in Spartak we lost two tanks. Almost all of the people survived.
Was there any contact with the landing force that was left behind?
There was a connection, but there was no longer an opportunity...
What was happening in the new terminal building at that time?
The two groups performed different tasks. A unit of the 90th battalion was supposed to enter the airport building through the runway. Due to dense fog - visibility 50-100 meters - the unit, together with battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Kuzminykh, passed the airport building. They found themselves on the other side of the terminal and came under heavy fire. They were surrounded and taken prisoner. The other part of the forces and resources retreated back. Now it is difficult to explain how everything happened. But from what we heard on the radio, the situation was very difficult. Another group - the 79th brigade - entered through the weather tower. She, too, was stopped by enemy fire. It was difficult to navigate due to the fog and they retreated to their previous positions.
After that, did you still try to storm the militants’ positions, or were you already planning a retreat?
We planned several events, including access to the monastery in order to slightly expand the territory under our control. Sometimes we encountered the fact that the fighters refused to go. There was a case when the 81st brigade commander, Colonel Evgeny Moysyuk, came out and said: “I’m going, who’s with me?” Then about 30-40 people agreed. But, unfortunately, this attempt failed. On January 21-22, militants blew up the terminal twice.
The second floor completely collapsed, then many guys were covered with stones, some of our soldiers were captured. We tried to get the defenders out of the terminal. The group of “Rahman” (he pulled out at least 20 fighters from the rubble - UP) - the head of reconnaissance of the 81st brigade - tried to remove people and take out the wounded in three MTLBs.
(The car of “Rahman” himself then overturned. The militants began to fire at it, the driver died, and the car itself caught fire. “Rahman” barely managed to get out - UP). After this, at night we sent a group of four soldiers from the 81st brigade, who were supposed to determine whether anyone was alive in the terminal.
How did these fighters get to the terminal?
They crawled on their bellies to the terminal through the runway on the Opytny side. According to Colonel Moysyuk’s report, they illuminated the building’s area with flashlights and shouted, but none of our fighters responded. They didn't find anyone alive there. Perhaps the guys were there, but they were afraid because they didn’t understand who came in - us or the enemy... Then, unfortunately, our group came out and didn’t bring anyone out.
They say that some soldiers, in order not to surrender, blew themselves up in the terminal. This is true?
There was such a fact. After an unsuccessful attempt to get people out of the terminal, some of them were captured, while others did not surrender. Four guys, one of them is an officer. I received an SMS from them to one of our fighters that “we are in the terminal and will not surrender alive.” And then there was information from intercepting the militants’ communications that four defenders of the terminal blew themselves up with grenades. Unfortunately, we don't know their names yet. Perhaps they are among the missing. It is our responsibility to establish their names. These are truly heroes.
The soldiers say that after Vodyanoy you were at the “Kater” stronghold, which was very close to Spartak, and there were even reports that you were killed there. This is true?
“Boat”, or “Zenith” is the position of the former radar company. There were concrete underground shelters, so it was more or less safe there. Although the AN/TPQ station (a mobile system for determining the number of artillery and rocket attacks - ed.), which we had on the “Katera”, recorded 600-700 shell explosions every day. Everyone who was at that strong point was a little stunned.
One day, it seems, January 25, there was an attack on the “Kater”. Then we recorded more than 1000 ruptures, and then the station that detected them refused to count them. The militants went on the offensive and tried to break through to the Avdeevka area between “Kater” and Opytny. All this is also in poor visibility conditions. We lost our bearings, slipped past the “Boat”, and a strong battle ensued. They suffered heavy losses. You come out onto a white field covered with snow, and on it there are only black spots - the bodies of militants and traces of explosions. Between “Kater” and Opytny they found about 30 people, and from the side of the Dutovka mine there were also about 20-25 dead.
What is this story when militant websites told you that you were killed in Avdiivka?
I found out about this a few days later. I also wondered why people looked at me strangely. I thought maybe I hadn’t shaved, but everyone there was like that. And then in Kyiv they showed me a printout from the Internet that Muzhenko was killed in Avdeevka. I was at the strong point on the “Katera” from the night of the 18th (January - A.) until the 26th inclusive. This information apparently appeared after the Grad hit our positions. It was evening. I went outside to our command post. I heard a volley, and then saw a wall of fire moving towards me. At such moments, the instinct of self-preservation is triggered. I just saw it out of the corner of my eye - and you’re already flying for cover.
After the battle, were Russian passports found?
Trophies were captured: a tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, an armored personnel carrier, an MT-12 (anti-tank gun - UP). There were prisoners. There were dead: Ukrainians who acted on the side of the militants. But there were also many Russians, including career military personnel. Then we found documents from them that testified to the presence of Russians in Donbass.
Was anyone held accountable for refusing to go on a mission, or did they arrive too late? Is there any responsibility for this?
I wouldn’t say that anyone categorically said: “No, I refuse, I won’t go.” I don't know such facts. In general, there is criminal liability for failure to comply with combat orders. If the order is carried out, but the goal is not achieved, there is a justification. Then the purely moral responsibility of man remains. I think this is the most difficult thing - moral responsibility for a comrade - the willingness to protect, help your own, pull them out. Volunteers were recruited to complete the tasks. We understood that you couldn’t send people there “under the radar,” that is, by order. And if you send it, then with what motivation will they perform this task?
Then there were volunteers.
Was holding the airport with such forces a political or tactical task?
The political issue was generally holding the line of defense. And the airport itself was of strategic importance, so we held it from April 2014 to January 2015. It was a definite springboard for further active actions, so that they could enter Donetsk. If it had not been defended back in May, our line of defense would have been to the west, it would have been possible to send cargo to Donetsk by plane and support bandit groups throughout the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.
Why then was the airport, made of plasterboard, not strengthened? Didn’t they import reinforced concrete blocks or make a fortress out of it?
All the time from May 26, when we recaptured the airport from the militants, until mid-July, the DAP was practically surrounded. We delivered food and people, for example, the mechanized company of the 72nd brigade there by air. There was no direct access to the airport. Then in the summer we unblocked it and liberated most of the territory of the Lugansk and Donetsk regions, including the release of the airport. But we assumed that we would go forward, because the DAP had to remain in the rear.
When a truce was declared in September, the militants did not remain on a certain line, but moved forward in violation of the Minsk agreements. Unfortunately, we did not have the strength and means to repel them - then the 79th and 95th brigades in the south carried out a raid. Only after this, in September, we were able to strengthen the group at the airport and stabilize the line around the airport. After that, we could only deliver food and ammunition to the GAP and carry out rotations. But we could not deliver a column with material resources or concrete blocks. Bags of building material were being transported.
You are accused of the fact that during the January operation there were no written orders, everything was oral. This is true?
There were orders. There is a certain procedure. If I am one on one with another commander, anyone from the command sets the task orally, it is always confirmed by a written document. Regardless of whether it was completed successfully or not. Even if the command was given without witnesses. This way, the senior commander develops trust, and the senior commander trusts his subordinate. This is the main point in the relationship between commanders and military personnel.
And all these insinuations are aimed at undermining trust in their superiors, their commanders, to unbalance the control system, so that the soldier does not follow the orders of the platoon commander, the company commander, the company commander is the commander of the regiment, brigade, and so on to the very top. Then the army is left without control.
How often did you communicate with the president during decisions regarding the airport? Who convinced whom?
Nobody convinced anyone. Such a definition is unacceptable for a military structure. The President knew that I would be there. I contacted him periodically and reported to him almost every day. During the attack, I tried to report an objective, complete picture. There were no attempts to embellish anything, not to say or not to say anything.
How did you coordinate the decision to leave the terminals with the president?
He reported that the situation had developed in such a way that there were no other options. That it is necessary to reach a certain line. The President accepted my report. In general, we now regard the attack on the DAP as a diversionary strike. The militants wanted us to gather all our forces and resources in the airport area. Their first task was to pull all the forces and resources to the Airport in order to begin the operation on Debaltsevo.
Second: if successful, they wanted to reach the corresponding borders - Avdeevka, Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, Kurakhovo, and take control of the infrastructure facilities that provide Donetsk.
And on the 26th, when the operation was suspended and we realized that the tension had subsided, we transferred our reserves to the Artemovsk area. It was on time. In mid-February, we had to almost completely expose the direction of the Crimean isthmus, where we had only two motorized infantry battalions with light weapons. This is how the operation at the Donetsk airport ended.
Do you consider yourself responsible for the fact that you were not able to fully carry out your intended operation?
I am responsible for all the decisions I made. Regardless of whether they had a successful ending or, unfortunately, not. I didn’t give up any of my decisions. And “experts” who give various assessments and forecasts cannot be objective.
In order to evaluate decisions, their expediency, objectivity, and situational conditions, you must be in that place at that time and bear the same responsibility. It is necessary to take into account psychological factors, moral ones, the availability of forces and means, weather conditions, and the situation, in order to evaluate all this, it must be seen, felt and understood.
For a month now, the hottest battles have been taking place at the Donetsk airport. Mass heroism is shown by both sides - some protect, others build a road from corpses. The heroes are surrounded by a thick veil, built of lies, myths and populism.
In memory of the fallen defenders, we decided to shed at least a little truth on the events and debunk the myths created in Moscow and Kyiv.
Donetsk Airport named after S.S. Prokofiev
The airfield in the city of Stalino was built on blood. The first bulldozers began leveling the area for the runway in 1933 - the hungriest year in the history of Ukraine. Even Russian historians who argue about Stalin’s guilt do not deny the very fact of the famine. The first passenger planes flew from Donetsk all the way to Starobelsk, a city in the Lugansk region, located 160 km from the airport.
In July 2011, for Euro 2012, a new runway was built, and in May 2012, a new terminal was built, which could handle 3,100 passengers in one hour. It was designed by the Croats and, as time has shown, they did their job well. It’s not for nothing that Kolesnikov (Minister of Transport) spent almost 7 billion hryvnia of state money, that is, 875 million dollars. The terminal is standing and can withstand hail. A lot was also stolen, but who will remember.
But even after the football championship, construction did not end. Donetsk oligarchs, like real feudal lords, cannot use a common terminal. For them, ordinary Donetsk residents are divided into two categories - servants and smerds. That's why they started building a VIP terminal. For the money of taxpayers, that is, us.
Sergei Prokofiev, after whom the airport is named, is a famous composer of the last century, born in the Donetsk region. A favorite of Stalin, his operas War and Peace and The Fiery Angel are perfectly suited to modern events.
Aerodrome
Can accommodate aircraft of any class. In 2013, it passed through 1,100,500 passengers. In addition to the charters of Akhmetov and company, it flies a little more than a dozen airlines. The main directions are Kyiv and Moscow. Almost everything else is Turkish resorts. There is only one flight to Europe and beyond, to Munich. For the middle class of Donetsk feudal lords who have not yet bought a personal plane, there are also flights to Greece and the Emirates. The rest is just little things - Kutaisi, Surgut, Ashgabat, Israel. Also accepts cargo.
The first assault on Donetsk airport
After the capture of Slavyansk, a detachment of the 3rd special forces regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces arrived at the airport. The special forces were stationed in the old terminal, and the airport continued to receive and dispatch flights. In May, Khodakovsky’s detachment, called the “Vostok Battalion,” arrived in Donetsk. It included many people from the Caucasus - Chechnya, Dagestan and other places.
This is how it began...
On May 26, Khodakovsky, who, according to some sources, previously served in Alpha, held negotiations with the commander of our special forces. The conversation went something like this:
- Let's take the new terminal. So that there is no shooting and no unnecessary victims. You remain in the old terminal, you can report to your superiors that you did not give up your position. Who needs bloodshed? We will enter the working, new terminal, journalists from Russia will come and take pictures. The airport will continue to operate.
- Well, try it. We took the oath and are not going to become traitors, like some.
After this conversation, several KAMAZ trucks with militants moved towards the airport. They entered the new terminal, which contained passengers and airfield personnel. The special forces did not interfere with them so that there would be no casualties among the civilian population. The fighters first opened warning fire, which dispersed the civilians. At this time, the militants took up defensive positions and prepared to repel the attack. Then the battle began.
...and so it ended.
The militants managed to climb onto the roof and install portable air defense systems there. Ours used aviation, at least two Mi-24 helicopters and one Su-25 attack aircraft. Under the cover of smoke bombs, Khodakovsky’s militants undertook a maneuver later used by Strelkov in Slavyansk. The code name is “Set a Streak”.
Almost all units of the regular army of the Russian Federation that were introduced into the territory of Ukraine passed through this meat grinder. Not every soldier went on the attack, but there were representatives from each unit. The artillerymen, of course, did not attack, they only supported with fire.
The same can be said about militant groups. Even Cossacks from the LPR were brought to Donetsk for this purpose. Therefore, there is no point in describing each division - name any, you won’t be mistaken, they took part. Why was this done? The answer is at the end of the article.
Russian television promoted the field “commanders” Givi and Motorola, but their role was greatly exaggerated. They are television stars who will receive all the laurels in case of victory, but not key figures or even commanders of any significant units. Next to them are military advisers from the Russian Federation, who make all decisions.
It is worth noting that creating myths around is beneficial to all parties to the conflict. Lies come from all sides - both from Putin and Poroshenko. But none of them concerns those heroes who stand there to the death.
Myth No. 1 Donetsk Prokofiev Airport
Somewhere in mid-September, such a thing as Donetsk Airport. Prokofiev, simply ceased to exist. It cannot accept passengers - the terminals, along with the entire infrastructure, are almost destroyed. It cannot receive aircraft - navigation and radar equipment has been practically destroyed, as well as oil depots, repair and other facilities necessary for aviation.
Some of the aviation equipment is located far beyond the airfield, no one knows what’s wrong with it now. The condition of the runway is a big question. Restoring even minimal functionality of the airfield may take many months. The problem is that it is not safe to repair dilapidated objects. It's better to tear everything down and rebuild. It will be even cheaper this way.
Therefore, it would be more logical to use the phrase “territory former airport them. Prokofiev."
Myth No. 2 Donetsk airport has been taken
If someone tells you that they have taken over the airport, feel free to send them to Putin. The airport area is more than 400 hectares, 99% of which is completely open area. All this land is viewed not only with the help of drones, but also with simple, stationary instruments. The artillery of both sides has already targeted this area very well, so it is simply impossible to control it. Neither Ukraine nor the DPR. Everything that appears there immediately comes under dense and accurate artillery fire.
This is Luhansk airport
Under the airport there are many underground communications, ranging from a tunnel connecting anti-aircraft units to a bomb shelter and terminal basements. Dozens of buildings, large and small, allow you to hide from shelling.
We can only talk about control over specific buildings. The main stronghold of our forces is the new terminal. The artillery that the militants have can completely destroy all buildings on the territory of the airport, as was done in Lugansk. Ukrainian can do the same. But the parties are trying, if possible, to preserve at least something that could, albeit conditionally, be called a captured/protected airport.
But even if the militants seize all the buildings, it will not be possible to talk about complete control. Special forces can appear at any moment, right out of the ground. So, even if the terrorists knock our people out of the buildings, they will be a little scared to spend the night in these huge, empty, gigantic buildings.
The militant commanders will not dare to leave a garrison of several hundred people overnight (and less will not work - too large areas need to be kept under control). Ukrainian soldiers won’t even need to knock them out. Lovers of the Russian world woke up in the morning and were missing a dozen or two of their comrades. And even fewer bodies were found. And so every night. Do you think all these Givi and Motorolas are going to achieve such a Pyrrhic victory?
To take Donetsk airport, you need to take everything settlements located within a radius of 10 km from it.
Myth No. 3 The situation at Donetsk airport
If we talk about the situation at the Donetsk airport, then we need to call exact time and list all the objects about which we're talking about. For example: “As of 16:21 07.10.2014, the Ukrainian military controls objects A, B, C and two floors of object D. Militants control the ground parts of objects D and E, and fighting is taking place in objects Z, Z, and I.” In five minutes, everything can change dramatically.
The main myth. Strategic importance of Donetsk airport
Both sides of the conflict call the airport a “strategic” facility. But that's not true. The famous volunteer Roman Donik said the best about the airport in his
On the night of January 21 to January 22, 2015, after the terminals and flight control tower were completely destroyed, the defense of Donetsk airport by Ukrainian soldiers ended. Today we remember how the battle for the DAP took place, which was followed by millions.
First shot. May 26, 2014
4 days after the official start of the ATO, DPR militants for the first time raise the flag over the building of the airport named after. S. Prokofiev in Donetsk. Despite the fact that many airlines subsequently refused to fly to Donetsk, until the end of May, with short interruptions, DAP still receives planes.
May 25, 2014 becomes the last day when a civilian plane lands on the runway: on that day, militants from the Vostok battalion enter the airport.
The next day, one of the most successful special operations of Ukrainian forces in the entire history of the Russian-Ukrainian war begins. Soldiers of the 3rd Special Forces Regiment from Kropyvnytskyi (Kirovograd) are landed near the DAP, and with the support of attack aircraft, they capture the airport in a few hours.
According to the journalist Yuri Butusov, at 11 a.m., a Kropyvnytskyi special forces sniper saw one of the Chechen militants pointing an Igla MANPADS at one of the Ukrainian fighters flying over the new terminal. The fighter, having received permission from the command, makes an accurate shot, which becomes the first in the battle for the airport.
After this, the Ukrainian military successfully held the airport throughout the summer. In August, Russian-terrorist formations launched an active offensive throughout the anti-terrorist operation zone. The militants receive a large number of Russian Grads and begin their first attacks on the airport.
"Cyborgs". September, 2014
On September 10, 2014, militants attacked the fortifications of Ukrainian fighters in the DAP with T-72 tanks and 240-mm Tulip mortars. The battle continues until late at night. The soldiers defending the DAP recapture 3 tanks and 2 armored personnel carriers from the terrorists.
After this, attacks on Ukrainian positions continued almost continuously throughout September. The terrorists are bringing up their “elite” units: “Kalmius”, “Sparta”, “Vostok”, constantly announcing that the airport will soon be under the control of the so-called. "DPR".
The heaviest attacks come from the southeast: terrorists place mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns on the roofs of nearby high-rise buildings, they fire at the control room from anti-tank guns, and special forces from the Russian Federation try to attack. Ukrainian fighters repulse the attacks and remain at the airport. A legend is born about “cyborgs” - that’s what the militants themselves call them.
Damn, I don’t know who is protecting the Donetsk airport, but we haven’t been able to knock them out for three months. We tried to storm them, they broke in on us, and we retreated. They began to cover with hail - they dive into the underground sewer collectors... I, he says, don’t know who is sitting there, but these are not people - these are cyborgs! – Sergey Sergeev, Facebook
The nickname “cyborgs” quickly became popular - a week later the President of Ukraine called the DAP defenders this way in his speech Petro Poroshenko.
Donetsk airport is becoming the hottest spot in the ATO zone: militants almost continuously attack the old and new terminals. On September 30, the leaders of the criminals first announced the alleged seizure of DAP, then they spoke about it again on October 3 and 5.
In order to clear the airport, by and large, we need 20 hours, but then this will be a violation of peace agreements,” the leader of the so-called. "DPR" Alexander Zakharchenko.
Despite loud statements, during a month of brutal fighting the terrorists were able to advance only 500 meters; Above the control tower there is still the flag of Ukraine.
Over the next months, the enemy attacks without ceasing, regardless of whether a truce is in effect or a ceasefire agreement has been signed: not a day goes by without shelling or an attempted assault.
October 30 Russian actor Mikhail Porechenkov comes to occupied Donetsk to meet "Givi" And "Motorola". In the company of terrorists, the so-called. “DPR” he demonstratively, “on camera”, fires at the positions of the Ukrainian military at the airport from a large-caliber machine gun. After a criminal case was opened against Porechenkov in Ukraine, the actor stated that he fired blanks.
Final defense, December, 2014 - January, 2015
In December, Ukrainian fighters blow up the old terminal on orders from the command and retreat to the new one. One of the heaviest battles for DAP, on December 1, lasts 36 hours: Russian special forces try to storm the airport, but suffer heavy losses and retreat. “Cyborgs” lost 2 fighters in almost two days, 16 were wounded.
According to the Ukrainian General Staff, the 16th special forces brigade of the GRU of the General Staff of the Russian Federation, the 200th special forces brigade of the Southern Military District (Rostov), a motorized rifle battalion and a tank company of the 4th separate guards Kantemirovskaya tank brigade, battalion 22 took part in the attacks on Donetsk airport 1st separate brigade of the GRU General Staff of the Russian Federation, assault company of the 106th Guards Airborne Division.
During the period of December 3-4, the defenders of the airport destroyed, according to various sources, from 27 to 32 soldiers of the Vympel special forces of the FSB of Russia - the people’s deputy reported this Andrey Teteruk, volunteer Konstantin Forester and head of the First Volunteer Mobile Hospital Evgeniy Nayshtetik. Moreover, over the previous 33 years of its existence, this unit officially lost 29 fighters.
On December 8, both terminals were practically destroyed, but Ukrainian fighters continued to defend themselves. Despite heavy fire, the “cyborgs” hang the Ukrainian flag on the radio tower.
Towards the end of December, militants attack the airport less frequently, mostly shelling it with mortars and small arms and not going into open battle. People's Deputy Dmitry Tymchuk states that the main forces of terrorists have retreated from the Ukrainian borders, leaving a small cover.
At the beginning of January 2015, the enemy became active again: on the night of January 8, the positions of the ATO forces were fired at 8 times, on January 10 - 14 times.
The media report that the rotation of “cyborgs” passes through so-called checkpoints. "DPR", in which the vehicles of the Ukrainian military are searched by militants. After a wave of indignation among Ukrainians, Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak calls this situation a misunderstanding.
“The situation at Donetsk airport is quite difficult, and every entry of our units is accompanied by significant risks. Therefore, there was an agreement so that personnel entering the airport territory would be allowed to pass through the DPR checkpoint without hindrance. That misunderstanding that we all saw... After this, the necessary measures were taken. The last rotation, which took place a day and a half ago, took place without what we saw on television,” Stepan Poltorak, Minister of Defense of Ukraine.
The situation at the Donetsk airport is deteriorating: it is possible to evacuate the wounded and transport food and ammunition only at night - during the day the territory is under fire from the enemy.
On the morning of January 13, the militants put forward an ultimatum: the “cyborgs” must leave the airport by 17:00 or they will be destroyed. The Ukrainian military refuses and asks the command for reinforcements and artillery support.
On January 15, the attack on Ukrainian positions begins again: militants spend the entire day trying to push the fighters back from the new terminal, firing at it with mortars and Grad missiles. Reinforcements of Ukrainian paratroopers fight their way into the DAP, the “cyborgs” counterattack the terrorists and knock them out of the 2nd floor of the new terminal. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, two soldiers were killed in the battle for the airport on January 15. Volunteers talk about 6 more wounded, 2 of which are serious.
On January 16, DAP defenders reported that part of the terminal’s floors had been captured by pro-Russian militants who were releasing unknown gas. The fighting begins around 6 am and ends only the next day, around 3 am on January 17th.
On January 17, after a relative calm, a fierce battle begins at the Donetsk airport: the positions of the “cyborgs” are intensively fired from Grad missiles. Towards evening, help makes its way to them: they manage to take out 3 dead and 20 wounded.
The next morning, the Ukrainian military counterattacks and retakes all the territory marked along the demarcation line. After several hours of calm, the fighting continues, the ATO headquarters declares that “cyborgs” are trying to drive the terrorists out of the airport.
“At the Donetsk airport, units of the Armed Forces are taking active steps to clear the airport territory, which until now was controlled by militants. The enemy is suffering losses in manpower and equipment."
At night, volunteers and military personnel pick up the wounded and bring in reinforcements. The losses for January 18 were not announced at the ATO headquarters.
On January 19, militants blow up the floors between the floors of the terminal, leaving the defenders in a small square between the two floors. They're building barricades there Anatoly "Spartan" Svirid and machine gunner Igor "Sodium" Branovitsky They collect and melt ice, obtaining water for the seriously wounded. At 10 a.m. the gas attack began: the terrorists first blew smoke to determine the direction of the wind, then an unknown gas that spasms the respiratory tract. The fighters breathe through wet wipes, but this does not help much - the gas corrodes the eyes and causes vomiting.
After some time of respite, the assault begins: tanks are fired at with direct fire from the old cyborg terminal.
Since lunchtime on January 19, attacks have been going on almost continuously. On the morning of January 20, after a short lull, militants blew up the terminal for the second time, mining the floors above and below the position of the Ukrainian military.
Those who were lying on the edge remained on top, and those who were in the center - next to the “three hundredths” and “two hundredths” - all went under the rubble. We got whoever we could. There are nine people alive, - Yuri Sova, “cyborg”, 80th brigade.
On the night of the 20th to the 21st there was heavy fog in the DAP area. This allows those wounded who can move to get to the Ukrainian positions in Piski. Together with them, the intelligence chief of the 81st airborne assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine leaves the blockade Andrey "Rakhman" Grechanov together with the scout "Zinoviy". They take an armored personnel carrier from their own, several soldiers for help, and try to return to the DAP to take out the seriously wounded and killed. A grenade launcher hits the car. “Rahman,” after a severe concussion and with a burnt face, still evacuates 15 fighters from the airport.
By this time, the “cyborgs” have practically nothing with which to fight: only a few working machine guns and some cartridges remain. Therefore, Ukrainian fighters begin negotiations with the militants about hospitalization of the wounded. So some of the airport defenders are captured.
In the first hours, the prisoners are brutally beaten, after which the interrogation begins. The 39-year-old suffers the most Igor Branovitsky- He was a machine gunner. After interrogation, he is returned to his cell with multiple fractures and thrown onto the floor next to the rest of the prisoners. “Cyborg” was cynically shot by a Motorola militant, who.
During the 242 days of defense of Donetsk airport, Ukrainian fighters lost more than a hundred people. More than 500 soldiers were wounded, and 24 “cyborgs” were captured. At least the approximate number of deaths from militants and Russian military personnel is unknown.
During the presentation of Sergei Loiko’s book “Airport” in Kharkov, the audience gave the “cyborgs” a standing ovation.
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