Second Battle of Donetsk Airport

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Second Battle of Donetsk Airport
Part of War in Donbass
File:Donetsk airport 2nd battle.jpg
A separatist fighter firing an anti-tank rifle on 7 October 2014.
Date28 September 2014 – present
(9 years, 6 months, 3 weeks and 6 days)
Location
Donetsk International Airport
Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
 Ukraine  Donetsk People's Republic
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Colonel[1]
(93rd Airmobile Brigade commander)
Yurii Bereza
(Dnipro Battalion commander)		 Givi[2]
Motorola
Units involved

Armed Forces of Ukraine:

Internal Affairs Ministry:

Right Sector:

Novorossiya Armed Forces:

  • Somalia Battalion
  • Sparta Battalion
Casualties and losses
15+ soldiers killed, 1 armored personnel carrier and 1 tank destroyed (acc. Ukraine)[6] 27 fighters killed (acc. separatists),[7] 2 tanks destroyed (acc. Ukraine)[8]

Despite a ceasefire between the government of Ukraine and the breakaway Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) that was in place since the implementation of the 5 September 2014 Minsk Protocol, fierce fighting broke out at Donetsk International Airport on 28 September.[9] DPR-affiliated insurgents launched an offensive on September 29. The rebels stated that the Ukrainian army stationed at the airport had shelled Donetsk. The airport is the last public area in the city of Donetsk that is still under Ukrainian control.

Battle

Fighting began at Donetsk Airport on 29 September, when seven Ukrainian soldiers were killed during clash with pro-Russian rebels. Ukrainian government sources claimed that a tank shell hit a vehicle carrying Ukrainian troops. Fierce fighting occurred, with Ukrainian forces suffering losses. The attack killed nine Ukrainian soldiers and wounded 27 more.[10]

The next day, rebel positions pounded Ukrainian forces at the airport, but the rebels say they fought back in response to mortar fire by government forces. A key rebel leader supported this claim, saying Ukrainian forces were "still shelling Donetsk".[11]

On 1 October, more fighting occurred. Ukrainian forces and rebels exchanged fire near the airport, killing ten civilians. Rebel leaders said that they controlled 90% of the airport.[12]

The next day, rebel forces claimed that the airport was under 95% of their control, but this was denied by government forces.[13] Fighting soon escalated, with rebel forces violating the ceasefire that had been put in place. Sporadic shelling continued.[14] The airport was still reported to be in government hands, and repelled a one-hour attack on the airport by rebels. The situation, according to Ukraine, is "difficult".[15]

On 3 October, more heavy fighting erupted around the airport, with artillery fire heard near the site. Ukraine claimed that rebels managed to break in into one of the terminal buildings under the cover of smoke bombs but the airport was still under their complete control. They also said that Ukrainian forces had pushed back the rebels from half of the building, and Russian drones were supporting them.[16] Rebels tanks pounded the airport terminal, where government forces were holed up. Sniper shots were fired, with rebels making gains in territory near the airport.[17] Meanwhile, government forces said they killed 10 militants and destroyed 2 of their tanks,[8] while a pro-rebel video showed a destroyed tank on the runway believed to belong to the Ukrainian Army.[18]

The following day, pro-Russian rebels suffered losses. Ukrainian forces claimed that they killed 12 rebels in attacks on the airport.[19]

On 9 October, Ukrainian forces repulsed another rebel attack on their positions at Donetsk airport. Rebels said that most of the airport was under their control.[20]

As of mid-October, the separatists continued to declare the airport was "almost taken" and explained the inability to fully control it was due to remaining Ukrainian defenders hiding in large underground bunkers. The Ukrainian side continued to publish videos of their soldiers controlling parts of both the old and the new terminal, freely moving on the surface and receiving reinforcements over the runway.[21][22][23]

Fighting escalated on October 20, with clashes continuing. Ukrainian forces said they destroyed a rebel tank, but a massive explosion rocked the city. Many soldiers died, and Ukrainian forces controlled the control tower and the old terminal.[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Combat footage. Fights for Donetsk airport 30/09/14 One day with Givi". 3 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Rebel commander wages fight to the death for east Ukraine airport". Yahoo News. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  3. ^ a b http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/cyborgs-pledge-to-defend-ruined-donetsk-airport-367553.html
  4. ^ http://en.censor.net.ua/news/306950/dnipro_battalion_will_not_leave_donetsk_airport_without_order_battalion_commander_bereza
  5. ^ http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-donetsk-airport-cyborg-superhero-meme/26640339.html
  6. ^ 9 killed (28 September)[1], 6 killed (1–14 October),[2] total of 15 reported killed
  7. ^ "Clashes outside Ukraine parliament". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk.
  8. ^ a b "Ukrainian troops kill ten militants, destroy two tanks in past 24 hours". Kyiv Post. 3 October 2014.
  9. ^ "Donetsk Airport Cyborgs". Ukraine Today. 2014-10-15. Retrieved 2014-10-15.
  10. ^ "'Seven Ukraine troops die' in deadliest post-truce attack". BBC. 29 September 2014.
  11. ^ "Donetsk airport shelling violates east Ukraine truce". BBC. 30 September 2014.
  12. ^ "Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia rebels clash over Donetsk airport".
  13. ^ "Pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian army battle for Donetsk airport". euronews. 2 October 2014.
  14. ^ "Fighting over Donetsk airport intensifies". Al Jazeera. 2 October 2014.
  15. ^ "Ukraine truce frays as rebels step up attack on Donetsk airport". livemint. 2 October 2014.
  16. ^ "Ukraine conflict: Heavy fighting for Donetsk airport". BBC. 3 October 2014.
  17. ^ "Pro-Russia rebels attempt to seize Donetsk airport in Ukraine". The Guardian. October 3, 2014.
  18. ^ "Donetsk airport carnage: Runway littered with destroyed tanks, plane wreckage". YouTube.
  19. ^ "Ukraine says its forces killed 12 rebels at Donetsk airport". Reuters. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  20. ^ "Ukraine Repels Rebel Attack on Airport as Truce Wobbles". Bloomberg. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  21. ^ "Clashes intensify in Donetsk, airport defenders are holding their ground". Kyiv Post. 2014-10-20. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  22. ^ Ротация "киборгов" в темноте: сперепортаж с передовой. ICTV. 2014-10-21. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL-7EHC1DbI
  24. ^ "Clashes intensify in Donetsk, airport defenders are holding their ground". Kyiv Post. October 20, 2014.

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