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First Battle of Donetsk Airport

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Battle of Donetsk Airport
Part of 2014 insurgency in Donbass
Date26–27 May 2014
Location
Donetsk International Airport, Ukraine
Result Pro Russian withdrawal
Belligerents
 Ukraine  Donetsk People's Republic
Units involved

Armed Forces of Ukraine:

Pro-Russian militants & local auxiliaries

Russia Russian volunteers

Strength

Unknown

 200 fighters[7]
Casualties and losses
Unknown[8] 33–50 killed[9]
43 wounded[7]
2 civilians killed[9]

The Battle of Donetsk Airport was a skirmish between separatist insurgents associated with the Donetsk People's Republic and Ukrainian government forces that broke out at Donetsk International Airport on 26 May 2014, as part of the ongoing conflict that has gripped Ukraine since the 2014 Ukrainian revolution.

Background

Main articles: 2014 insurgency in Donbass and 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine

The Ukrainian government said it was starting an "anti-terrorist" operation against pro-Russian insurgents in the Donetsk Oblast in early April. Pro-Russian protesters, militants, and the Donetsk People's Republic gained control over numerous government buildings, towns, and territories in the region. In Donetsk city itself, as well as in other cities, many government buildings were under separatist control. Donetsk International Airport remained unclaimed by the separatists.

Events

During the morning on 26 May, 200 pro-Russian separatist insurgents[7] captured the terminal area of Donetsk International Airport and demanded the withdrawal of government forces from the area.[10] The militants also blocked off the road to the airport. Soon after, the Ukrainian National Guard issued an ultimatum to the separatists to surrender, which was rejected. Following this, paratroopers launched an assault and an air strike was also conducted against the rebels.[11][12] Attack helicopters were also used to target an anti-aircraft gun controlled by the insurgents.[13] Trucks with separatist reinforcements were seen heading towards the airport.[14] As evening fell, the situation was unclear[12] with the military pushing out the insurgents,[15] which was followed by an insurgent counterattack that was repelled,[16] but sporadic gunfire could still be heard during the night making it unclear if government soldiers were in full control.[15]

The next day, both Ukrainian and pro-Russian leaders confirmed that Ukrainian forces were in full control of the airport,[8] but by mid-morning, machine gun fire could still be heard on one of the main roads leading to the airport and separatists built barricades across the airport road.[17][18] The Mayor of Donetsk urged all residents to stay in their homes.[19]

During the fighting, Druzhba Arena, home of the Kontinental Hockey League team HC Donbass, was ransacked by pro-Russian gunmen who looted the arena before destroying surveillance equipment and setting the arena on fire.[8][20]

In the days following the battle, anger toward the Ukrainian government grew among some local pro-Russian residents. According to one resident, many people were thinking of joining the insurgency if government military operations continued.[21] Sporadic fighting also continued, with at least one insurgent being killed in a firefight on 29 May, and six other separatists died on 31 May, after they attempted to retrieve the bodies of their comrades at the site of the airport battle.[22]

Casualties

Donetsk Mayor Oleskandr Lukyanchenko said the death toll in the clashes stood at forty, almost all of them separatist insurgents, but also including two civilians.[23] The city morgue gave a death toll of 33 militants and two civilians.[9] Forty-three separatists were also wounded.[7] Separatist leaders Alexander Borodai and Denis Pushilin put the death toll at 100, with half being insurgents and the other half being civilians in an attempt to lure Russia to intervene,[24][25][26] which was not immediately confirmed.[27] Ukrainian officials reported no losses.[8] 15–35[24][28] of the insurgents were reportedly killed in a single incident when two trucks carrying wounded fighters away from the airport were targeted either by air strikes or fell into an ambush with at least one of them being hit by an RPG.[24][28] Thirty-four of the dead militants were Russian nationals and Donetsk insurgents claimed the bodies were returned to Russia.[29] It was later revealed the bodies were retuned covertly to hide the fact that they were Russian, eventually ending up in a Rostov-on-Don morgue in the Russian Federation.[30]

Among the dead on the pro-Russian side were former Russian Airborne Troops of the 45th regiment special forces,[30] Soviet war in Afganistan veterans,[30] and world kick-boxing champion Nikolai Leonov who was a native of Dnipropetrovsk.[31]

Chechen involvement

Main article: Donetsk People's Republic § Chechens

It was claimed and later verified that forces loyal to Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov came to Donetsk to fight alongside the insurgents.[4] Although Kadyrov denied that he sent Chechens to Donetsk,[32] one Chechen fighter claimed that Kadyrov had given them an order to go to Ukraine.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Pro-Russian forces in Ukraine turn on each other with rebel militia arresting rival groups and removing their flags from check-points". The Daily Mail. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Volunteers or paid fighters? The Vostok Battalion looms large in war with Kiev". The Guardian. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Meet the Russian Orthodox Army, Ukrainian Separatists' Shock Troops". NBC News. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Courtney Weaver (27 May 2014). "Chechens join pro-Russians in battle for east Ukraine". The Financial Times. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  5. ^ Andrew Roth; Sabrina Tavernisemay (27 May 2014). "Russians Revealed Among Ukraine Fighters". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  6. ^ Jeremy Bender (28 May 2014). "Chechen Militants Are Now Spreading Chaos in Ukraine". Business Insider. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d Shaun Walker (27 May 2014). "Ukraine says it controls Donetsk airport after fighting leaves dozens dead". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d "Fighting rages in eastern Ukraine city, dozens dead". Reuters. 27 May 2014.
  9. ^ a b c Jim Roberts; Christopher Miller (28 May 2014). "Ukraine Government Claims Control of Airport; Up to 50 Separatists Are Killed". Mashable. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  10. ^ "Ukraine crisis: pro-Russian rebels seize Donetsk airport". The Daily Telegraph. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  11. ^ Alastair MacDonald; Yannis Behrakis (27 May 2014). "Battle at Donetsk airport; new Ukraine leader says no talks with 'terrorists'". Reuters. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  12. ^ a b Lucy Crossley; Dan Bloom (26 May 2014). "Ukraine launches air strike and sends in paratroopers after pro-Russian rebels seize Donetsk airport". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  13. ^ "Ukrainian army battles Kremlin-backed separatists in Donetsk; at least one civilian killed in crossfire". Kyiv Post. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  14. ^ Nick Paton Walsh; Ralph Ellis (26 May 2014). "Ukrainian troops, separatists battle at Donetsk airport". CNN. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  15. ^ a b Sabrina Tavernise; Andrew Roth (26 May 2014). "Ukraine Forces Appear to Oust Rebels From Airport in East". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  16. ^ "Ukraine crisis: Stand-off amid fight for Donetsk airport". BBC News. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  17. ^ "East Ukraine city largely calm after battle, rebels seek Russian help". Worldbulletin. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  18. ^ Shaun Walker (27 May 2014). "Ukraine says it controls Donetsk airport after fighting leaves dozens dead". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  19. ^ "Ukraine crisis: Dozens reported killed in eastern fighting". CBC News. Associated Press. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  20. ^ Mat Babiak (27 May 2014). "Pro-Russian Gunmen Loot & Torch HC Donbass Arena". Euromaidan PR.
  21. ^ Alec Luhn (30 May 2014). "Poroshenko vows to punish rebels who shot down Ukraine helicopter". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  22. ^ Thomas Grove; Gabriela Baczynska (31 May 2014). "Six Ukrainian separatists killed around Donetsk airport". Reuters. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  23. ^ Sabina Zawadzki; Gabriela Baczynska (27 May 2014). "Fighting rages in Ukraine eastern city, dozens dead". Reuters. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  24. ^ a b c "Up to 100 killed in Kiev military op, Donetsk E. Ukraine - anti-govt forces". RT. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  25. ^ Vladimir Radyuhin (27 May 2014). "Over 100 killed in fierce Kiev onslaught". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  26. ^ Peter Leonard (27 May 2014). "Dozens dead, morgues overflowing after siege turns one of Ukraine's largest airports into a war zone". National Post. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  27. ^ Michael Burnbaum; Fredrick Kunkle (27 May 2014). "Ukraine's military retakes airport seized by rebels in Donetsk". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  28. ^ a b "Donetsk announces mobilization of medical personnel after at least 24 people were killed in attack". Voice of Russia. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  29. ^ "Donetsk militants send 34 pro-Russian separatists bodies to Russia – leader". KyivPost. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  30. ^ a b c "Battle for Donetsk airport: the story of one Russian fighter". The Guardian. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  31. ^ "World champion in kick-boxing is among victims at Donetsk airport". Voice of Russia. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  32. ^ "'Chechens in Donetsk?! I didn't order it, tell me more' – Kadyrov on CNN report". RT. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
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