In Ukraine, January 20, 2026, is commemorated as the Day of Remembrance for the defenders of Donetsk Airport. This date marks the 11th anniversary of the end of fierce battles for the airport that began in May 2014.
In 2022, the Minister of Defense and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine jointly decided to establish January 20 as the Day of Remembrance for the defenders of the DAP. Previously, the memory of the "cyborgs" was honored on January 16, according to Ukrinform.
For 242 days, Ukrainian soldiers, volunteers, medics, and volunteers stood against the Russian occupation forces and pro-Russian militants. The battles took place at the international airport "Donetsk" named after Serhiy Prokofiev.
During the defense of the airport, the defenders were referred to as "cyborgs." The phrase "People endured, concrete did not" succinctly characterized the prolonged resistance on this small foothold.
The airport, opened in 1933, underwent significant modernization before Euro-2012, with a new runway and terminal being built. This terminal was blown up by pro-Russian illegal armed groups on January 20, 2015, ultimately destroying the airport.
The first attempt to seize the airport by Russian forces occurred on April 17, 2014, and all flights were suspended from May 6. The active phase of fighting began on May 26 when Russian military units and militants entered the new terminal. As a result of coordinated actions by the Ukrainian aviation and ground forces, the enemy was pushed back, and the airport came under the control of ATO forces.
Later, the city of Donetsk faced complete destabilization, the onset of occupation, and endless attempts by the enemy to reclaim control over the airport, but Ukrainian soldiers held their ground under heavy fire.
Throughout the summer of 2014, combat clashes were sporadic, but from the beginning of September, fighting intensified again as the enemy ramped up its offensive against the Minsk agreements.
Ukrainian servicemen held both the old and new terminals. The village of Pisky became a support point for ATO forces, supplying provisions and ammunition to the airport defenders.
Pro-Russian forces systematically stormed the terminals, taking new positions, losing them, and preparing for further assaults. In December 2014, the old terminal sustained significant damage, and on January 13, 2015, the control tower of Donetsk airport collapsed, which had been held by Ukrainian fighters. It became the "eyes" of the defenders of the DAP and a symbol of their heroism and defense of the airport overall.
In the new terminal, battles raged across its various floors – in the final stages of the battle, Ukrainian warriors held the first floor while the enemy controlled the basement and upper floors. When pro-Russian forces blew up the new terminal on January 20, the concrete ceilings and floors collapsed in many sections, trapping Ukrainian defenders underneath. On January 22, 2015, the surviving defenders exited the terminal, marking the date when Donetsk airport was completely destroyed.
The defense of Donetsk airport became one of the first battles of the Russo-Ukrainian war and an important milestone in the confrontation in eastern Ukraine.