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Control of airports in Ukraine has been a highly contested issue between Ukrainian and Russian forces. Airports such as Donetsk International Airport, Hostomel Airport, and Antonov Airport have been sites of fierce battles and exchanges of gunfire between the two sides. Russian troops have managed to seize control of some airports, such as Hostomel Airport, which was taken after a fierce battle, while Ukrainian forces have also regained control of airports like Antonov Airport following Russian withdrawals. These airports are strategically important, providing vantage points for targeting positions and facilitating the movement of troops and equipment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport | Hostomel Airport, Antonov Airport, Boryspil International Airport, Donetsk International Airport |
| Control | Ukraine lost control of Hostomel Airport and Antonov Airport to Russian forces. Donetsk International Airport has been controlled by pro-Russian separatist forces since 2015. |
| Current Status | As of 2 April 2022, Ukrainian forces regained control of Antonov Airport following a Russian withdrawal. |
| Damage | Antonov Airport was too damaged to be used as a functional airstrip. Donetsk International Airport was destroyed in 2014 during the war in Donbas. |
| Casualties | Ukrainian forces reported destroying Russian equipment and vehicles, and causing Russian casualties. Russia lost at least seven armoured fighting vehicles, 23 infantry fighting vehicles, and more at Antonov Airport. |
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What You'll Learn
- Russian troops take control of Hostomel Airport outside Kyiv
- Ukraine regains Antonov Airport after Russian withdrawal
- Donetsk International Airport: site of two battles between Ukrainian and Russian forces
- Russian intelligence fails to assess Ukrainian defence strength at Antonov Airport
- Ukrainian airspace closed to civilian flights after Russian invasion
Russian troops take control of Hostomel Airport outside Kyiv
Russian troops took control of Hostomel Airport, located just 12 miles outside Kyiv, following a fierce battle with Ukrainian forces. This was the first major battle of the Russo-Ukrainian War and a decisive event in the war.
The battle for Hostomel Airport began on the morning of February 24, 2022, and lasted less than 36 hours. Russian forces sought to seize the airfield near the capital, with additional airborne battalions following on transport planes. They planned to rapidly deploy, take control of Kyiv, and overthrow the Ukrainian government. While Russia gained control of the airport, they failed to achieve the objective of the assault. Ukrainian National Guard conscripts, supported by artillery units, delayed Russian troops, preventing them from using the airfield as a air bridge to support a rapid seizure of Ukraine's capital.
The initial failure to take the airport was described as "a turning point" in the war. Despite the airport's capture, Ukrainian forces continued to engage the Russians in Hostomel. Eyewitnesses reported a Russian tank column burning, and Ukrainian Mi-24s firing rockets at Russian positions. Ukrainian forces also bombarded the airport with artillery, destroying equipment, vehicles, and personnel.
In the following weeks, the airport was partially repaired, serving as a base to house equipment and troops, but it was not used as an airstrip. Clashes shifted to nearby towns, and by March 28, 2022, satellite imagery showed no Russian forces inside the airport. On March 29, Russia announced a withdrawal from the Kyiv area, including the abandonment of Hostomel Airport. Ukrainian forces regained control of the airport following the Russian retreat, marking a key moment in Russia's defeat in Kyiv.
The battle demonstrated the importance of the airport's strategic location near Kyiv. Russia's failure to effectively coordinate its invasion and adapt to Ukrainian defenses contributed to their inability to achieve their objectives. The Ukrainian defense of Hostomel Airport played a significant role in thwarting Russia's initial plans for a rapid victory.
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Ukraine regains Antonov Airport after Russian withdrawal
Ukraine has regained control of the Antonov Airport in Hostomel, located on the outskirts of the country's capital, Kyiv. This comes after Russian forces withdrew from the Kyiv and Chernihiv areas in April 2022, following heavy losses and an inability to make progress. The airport, which is a major international cargo airport, was initially captured by Russian troops in February 2022, just hours after President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" in Ukraine.
The Antonov Airport holds strategic value due to its proximity to Kyiv, situated less than 10 kilometres outside the capital. Its capture would have allowed Russian troops to airlift more troops and heavier equipment, directly threatening the city. However, the Ukrainian military mounted a counter-attack, encircling the unsupported Russian forces and foiling their plans for a swift capture of Kyiv.
The battle for Antonov Airport, also known as the Battle of Hostomel Airport, resulted in heavy losses for both sides. The world's largest aircraft, the Antonov An-225 Mriya, was destroyed during the battle, along with significant losses of military equipment for Russia. Ukrainian forces also suffered casualties, with Russia claiming nearly 200 Ukrainian deaths, while Western and Ukrainian sources estimated the loss of 300 Russian paratroopers.
The withdrawal from Antonov Airport is indicative of Russia's waning military success around Kyiv. Russian forces constructed protective earthen berms and claimed the ease of capturing the air base, only to later abandon their positions. This retreat allowed Ukrainian forces to regain control of the airport and surrounding areas, demonstrating their resilience and determination in the face of the Russian invasion.
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Donetsk International Airport: site of two battles between Ukrainian and Russian forces
Donetsk International Airport, located 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Donetsk, Ukraine, was the site of two major battles between Ukrainian and Russian forces during the War in Donbas. The airport, named after the twentieth-century composer Sergei Prokofiev, was built in the 1940s, rebuilt in 1973, and then renovated from 2011 to 2012 in preparation for Euro 2012.
The First Battle of Donetsk Airport took place on May 26, 2014, shortly after Petro Poroshenko won the Ukrainian presidential election. Pro-Russian fighters captured the terminal buildings and demanded the withdrawal of government forces. The Ukrainian National Guard issued an ultimatum to the insurgents, which was rejected, leading to an assault by paratroopers and airstrikes against pro-Russian positions. The Ukrainian government claimed to have regained full control of the airport by the next day, but sporadic gunfire and fighting continued. The death toll from the clashes was reported to be around forty, including insurgents and civilians.
The Second Battle of Donetsk Airport began in late September 2014, despite a ceasefire agreement, the Minsk Protocol, being in place since September 5. Heavy fighting between Ukrainian and Russian proxy forces of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) continued into the new year, with some of the worst clashes occurring in January 2015. On January 17, 2015, DPR leader Alexander Zakharchenko claimed that his forces had taken complete control of the airport after a series of battles. The airport complex suffered extensive damage during the battles, with the main terminal buildings and control tower collapsing due to structural failures.
The airport has been controlled by pro-Russian separatist forces since 2015 and has occasionally been the site of further skirmishes. The battles and destruction of the airport highlight the intense conflict between Ukrainian and Russian-backed forces in the region, with the airport's strategic location playing a crucial role in the fighting.
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Russian intelligence fails to assess Ukrainian defence strength at Antonov Airport
Russia's intelligence apparatus failed to assess the Ukrainian defence strength at Antonov Airport, also known as Hostomel Airport, which is located in the town of Hostomel, just outside Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. This airport was a significant strategic target for Russia during the invasion of Ukraine due to its ability to accommodate heavy transport aircraft and its proximity to Kyiv.
The airport was owned and operated by the Antonov State Enterprise, a Ukrainian state-owned aerospace and air defence company. It was also home to the Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world's largest airplane. Capturing the airport was a critical aspect of Russia's tactical plan to seize Kyiv swiftly. They intended to use a combination of airstrikes, electronic warfare, and cyberattacks to cripple Ukrainian air defences and limit their military command and communication systems.
However, Russian intelligence underestimated the Ukrainian defenders' strength and resolve around the airport, assuming only token defences. This miscalculation resulted in a significant setback for Russian forces. Despite their efforts to neutralise Ukraine's air defences and employ blitzkrieg tactics, the Ukrainian forces mounted a robust defence, disrupting Russia's plans for a rapid takeover of the airport and, subsequently, Kyiv.
The defence of Hostomel Airport was a critical factor in thwarting Russia's initial invasion plan. The Ukrainian forces' ability to delay and frustrate the Russian advance played a pivotal role in preventing the swift "decapitation strike" intended to topple the Ukrainian government. This demonstrated the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian defenders, who successfully resisted Russia's attempts to establish a bridgehead at the airport.
In summary, the failure of Russian intelligence to accurately assess the Ukrainian defence strength at Antonov Airport resulted in a significant tactical setback for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The airport's capture was intended to facilitate a rapid assault on Kyiv and overthrow the Ukrainian government. However, the Ukrainian forces' effective defence disrupted Russia's timeline and forced them to adjust their military strategy.
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Ukrainian airspace closed to civilian flights after Russian invasion
Ukraine has closed its airspace to civilian flights after Russia's military invasion of the country. The Ukrainian presidential advisor said that Ukraine had lost control of the Hostomel Airport outside Kyiv to Russian forces after a fierce battle. This is not the first time Ukraine has had to deal with Russian aggression; in 2014, a missile brought down passenger plane MH17 in Ukraine airspace, killing all 298 people on board. The missile was tracked to Russia, although they denied involvement. This incident occurred amid heavy fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas region, who had just declared independence.
In the current conflict, Ukraine cited a high risk to flight safety due to the use of weapons and military equipment. Moldova also closed its airspace, and Belarus shut down part of its airspace. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) warned of safety risks in flying in airspace near Ukraine's borders, including Russia. EASA stated that there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft, and that the presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems pose a high risk to civil flights at all altitudes and flight levels. The UK has ordered aircraft flying to or from its airports to avoid Ukraine's airspace, and British citizens were advised to leave the country.
The US, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy have also issued total flight bans for Ukraine due to the risk from military activity at all levels. The primary risk is the unintended targeting of civil aircraft by the military, including misidentification, as seen with MH17. There is also a risk of a potential lack of Ukrainian Air Traffic Control Service at short notice due to a cyber attack or other unforeseeable non-normal operating environments for civil aircraft.
As a result of the conflict, 155 flights to and from Ukraine were cancelled on Thursday, 24 February 2022.
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Frequently asked questions
Ukraine lost control of Hostomel Airport to Russian forces after a fierce battle in 2022. However, in April 2022, Russian forces withdrew from the Kyiv area, and Ukrainian forces regained control of the airport.
Donetsk International Airport has been controlled by pro-Russian separatist forces since 2015. It was destroyed in 2014 during the war in Donbas and has occasionally been a battleground since then.
Boryspil International Airport is one of Ukraine's busiest airports, handling most of the country's international traffic. It is currently under Ukrainian control.
