Russia's Destruction Of Ukraine Airport: Who's Responsible?

On 9 August 2022, explosions hit a military airfield near the village of Novofedorivka in Crimea, Ukraine, killing one person and injuring several others. The airfield was used for basing aviation for the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. While the Russian Defence Ministry denied any attack took place, Ukraine appeared to launch a pre-emptive strike on bombers that the Kremlin has used to cripple the Ukrainian electrical grid. This incident marked a potential escalation in the war between the two nations.

Explosions at a military airfield in Crimea

On April 17, 2024, explosions and a large-scale fire were reported at a military airfield in the town of Dzhankoi in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. The airfield is located just outside the town and is home to the 39th Helicopter Regiment of the 27th Mixed Aviation Division of the Russian Army. Local residents reported explosions and fire in the area, and Telegram channels, citing local residents, wrote that there had been an ammunition detonation at the airfield.

The cause of the explosions was not immediately clear, but there were reports of dead and wounded individuals. The Russian Defence Ministry stated that the detonation of aviation ammunition caused the blasts, but did not clarify the trigger. The primary cause was speculated to be a violation of fire safety requirements.

The incident occurred amid intensified Ukrainian attacks on occupied Crimea, targeting Russian military assets in and around the Black Sea. In the months leading up to the explosions, Ukraine had carried out strikes on a command post and shot down a Russian helicopter near Avdiivka.

Ukraine's alleged attack on a Russian airbase

On 25 February 2022, the Russian airbase in Millerovo, Rostov Oblast, Russia, was attacked by Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian officials claimed that their military forces attacked the airbase with OTR-21 Tochka missiles, destroying Russian Air Force planes and setting the airbase on fire. The attack was allegedly in response to the shelling of Ukrainian cities by Russian forces. Multiple people were wounded, and a pilot died of their injuries later. At least one Sukhoi Su-30SM was destroyed, although Ukrainian officials and military experts claimed that two Russian Su-30SM fighters were destroyed.

The Millerovo airbase was bombed again by Ukraine on 20 July 2024 in a drone strike, with locals observing several fires on the runway. This was the first attack on a Russian airfield using U.S.-donated Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles. The attack targeted the Khalino airfield, about 60 miles from the Ukrainian border. Two troops were injured, and a private house was damaged.

In December 2024, explosions rocked two Russian airbases far from the Ukraine frontline—the Engels-2 airbase in Russia's Saratov region and the Dyagilevo military airbase near Ryazan, a city less than 150 miles from Moscow. The Engels-2 airbase is a crucial site for Russian air force operations and houses nuclear weapons. The explosions were caused by a Ukrainian strike on Russian bombers, which the Kremlin has used to try to cripple the Ukrainian electrical grid. The Dyagilevo military airbase explosion was caused by a fuel truck explosion, killing three people and wounding five.

The Second Battle of Donetsk Airport

The battle began on 28 September 2014, despite a ceasefire agreement, the Minsk Protocol, being in place since 5 September 2014. At the start of the battle, the airport was the last part of Donetsk city held by Ukrainian government forces and lay between the separatist and Ukrainian lines of control.

The worst incident since the start of the ceasefire took place on 28 September, when nine Ukrainian soldiers were killed and twenty-seven wounded in a clash with DPR forces. DPR forces began to establish positions in tower blocks overlooking the airport, including a medical station, staging area, and an artillery observation post. At 06:15 local time on the following day, DPR forces began to barrage the airport with Grad rocket fire.

Ukrainian and separatist forces continued to exchange artillery fire. On 1 October, a school and bus stop in the Kyivskiy district of Donetsk city, which neighbours the airport, were struck by shells, killing ten civilians. DPR forces supported by tanks began to advance into the airport, and seized several hangars, a fuel storage area, and outbuildings. They used these buildings as artillery emplacements, and began to bombard Ukrainian positions.

Amidst heavy artillery fire, DPR forces pressed further into the airport on 3 October. The militants broke into the airport's old terminal building by using smoke bombs for cover. Their tanks turned their guns on the new terminal building, the main stronghold for Ukrainian soldiers at the airport. Despite this, Ukrainian forces later managed to push the insurgents out of half of the old terminal building and halted their advance.

DPR forces made another attempt to seize control of Donetsk airport on 9 October but were repelled by government forces. During this skirmish, heavy shelling in districts close to the airport resulted in the deaths of at least five civilians.

Fighting between Ukrainian and DPR forces intensified in mid-October. Six people were wounded by shelling on 19 October. A large explosion caused by shelling at a chemical works near the airport on 20 October damaged the Donbass Arena, and caused damage to buildings across Donetsk.

By 28 October, all but the first three floors of the new terminal building had collapsed. Ukrainian forces maintained control of the ground and first floors of the airport, whilst DPR forces controlled the second floor and the basement tunnel network. The building had become littered with booby traps and debris, with Ukrainian and DPR forces fighting in a "claustrophobic game of cat and mouse".

Heavy fighting resumed on 29 December, when DPR forces again attacked government-controlled positions at the airport. Three Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the fighting, along with fourteen insurgents. By 31 December, the insurgents had retreated back to their original positions.

On 12 January, government forces attacked the DPR-controlled old terminal building but were repelled. DPR authorities issued an ultimatum to Ukrainian forces defending the airport, stating that if they did not withdraw by 17:00 local time, they would "face destruction". Ukrainian forces did not withdraw, leading to heavy shelling by DPR forces, which caused the strategic air traffic control tower to collapse.

After four days of heavy shelling of the airport, DPR forces pushed back Ukrainian troops on 14 January and captured one-third of the new terminal building. On the next day, DPR authorities said they were in full control of the airport, though fighting continued, and Ukrainian government officials denied that the terminal had been lost.

A government military operation over the weekend of 17–18 January resulted in Ukrainian forces recapturing most of the airport. The operation caused fighting to move toward Donetsk proper, resulting in heavy shelling of residential areas of the city that border the airport.

On 20 January, Ukrainian forces attempted to surround the airport in an attempt to push back the insurgents. As Ukrainian and DPR forces fought away from the airport, a group of insurgents stormed the ground and second floors of the new terminal building. Ukrainian troops continued to hold out on the first floor of the building until the separatists exploded the second floor, causing it to collapse onto them. This killed several soldiers and proved to be the battle's turning point.

By the next day, the remaining Ukrainian forces were either captured, killed, or forced to withdraw from the building, allowing DPR forces to overrun it. According to one volunteer, 37 Ukrainian troops died. During the fighting, Right Sector leader Dmytro Yarosh was wounded by an exploding Grad rocket.

Drone attacks on Russian airports

On 30 August 2023, a large-scale wave of drone attacks caused the diversion of around 45 flights from Moscow airports. This prompted Turkmenistan Airlines, Turkmenistan's flagship carrier, to suspend flights to Moscow altogether. The budget airline, Pobeda, has also suggested that it may seek compensation from the Russian government if the situation persists.

Drone attacks have not been limited to Moscow, with reports of strikes on airports in Kazan, Izhevsk, and Saratov. The attack on Kazan airport on 21 December 2024, in particular, led to the temporary closure of the airport and the cancellation of all planned mass events in the city.

While Ukraine has not publicly claimed responsibility for these attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that attacks on Russian territory are an "inevitable, natural, and absolutely fair process". Drone strikes on Russian soil have become an almost daily occurrence, with over 190 suspected attacks reported in 2023 alone.

These attacks have targeted not only airports but also military airfields, oil depots, and energy infrastructure. The increasing frequency and reach of the attacks, including strikes on Moscow, hundreds of miles from the Ukrainian border, demonstrate Ukraine's growing capacity for long-range drone operations.

The use of drones in the conflict has been mutual, with Russia also employing Iranian-made drones in Ukraine. However, Ukraine has significantly increased its drone production to meet the demand on the front line. The country's extensive use of drones, particularly the Bayraktar TB2, has inflicted heavy losses on Russian forces.

The impact on civilians

The impact of the Second Battle of Donetsk Airport on civilians was profound and far-reaching. The airport was strategically important for both sides, as it provided a "convenient vantage point" for Ukrainian forces to target Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) positions. As a result, the airport and the surrounding areas became a site of heavy fighting, with shelling and machine-gun fire endangering civilians.

The battle caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, a school, and a bus stop in the Kyivskiy district of Donetsk. The shelling resulted in the deaths of ten civilians and left many others injured. The Ukrainian government accused the DPR of stationing artillery in residential areas, while Amnesty International also stated that Ukrainian forces were firing from the airport, hitting residential areas. This put civilians at grave risk and caused immense suffering.

The intense fighting and shelling also disrupted essential services for civilians. Residents of Hostomel, a town near the airport, reported constant shelling and airstrikes by Russian forces, depriving them of water, food, electricity, and medicine. They were unable to receive humanitarian aid, evacuate, or even remove corpses from the streets. The constant bombardment and lack of basic necessities caused immense hardship and trauma for the civilian population.

Furthermore, there were reports of violence and looting by DPR and Russian forces. Kadyrovites, a Chechen strike group, were reported to be operating near the airport and robbing residents. There were also eyewitness accounts of Russian soldiers firing on an ambulance, showing a blatant disregard for civilian lives and humanitarian principles.

The battle's impact extended beyond the immediate area, as the intense fighting prevented Ukrainian forces from quickly taking control of Ukraine and potentially disrupting Russia's invasion plans. The airport and the surrounding areas became a site of fierce resistance, with Ukrainian forces mounting a strong defense, which included the use of drones and rocket attacks. This prolonged conflict caused widespread displacement and suffering for civilians across the region, as people fled their homes to escape the violence.

Overall, the Second Battle of Donetsk Airport had a devastating impact on civilians, with loss of life, destruction of infrastructure, disruption of essential services, and widespread displacement. The battle's strategic importance for both sides resulted in intense fighting that caused immense suffering and left indelible scars on the affected communities.

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