Ukraine honors memory of soldiers who fought in Battle of Donetsk Airport
Photo by Sergei L. Loiko Los Angeles Times
On January 16, Ukrainian honors the Day of Remembrance of Donetsk Airport Defenders or "Cyborgs."
The All-Ukrainian Day of Remembrance of Defenders of Donetsk Airport was established at the initiative of Ukrainian soldiers who defended this strategic object for 242 days.
The fighting for the airport lasted from May 26, 2014, to January 22, 2015, and ended after the destruction of the old and new terminals.
Special forces of the 3rd separate regiment, fighters of the 79th, 80th, 81st, 95th separate airmobile and 93rd separate mechanized brigades, 57th separate motorized infantry brigade, 90th separate airmobile, and 74th separate reconnaissance battalions, fighters of the Dnipro-1 regiment, the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps (DUK) and others fought in the Donetsk airport and the village of Pisky during this period.
Volunteers and medics also took part in defense of the airport.
Ukrainian defenders were called "cyborgs" for their steadfastness and indomitability. They symbolized courage and devotion to the ideals of a free and independent Ukraine.
In the period from January 18 to 21, 2015, 58 "cyborgs" died as a result of the detonation of the DAP terminal by the occupiers, so on January 21, it was decided to withdraw Ukrainian servicemen from the new terminal, which was completely destroyed and not suitable for defense.
While protecting the Donetsk airport, more than 200 Ukrainian defenders were killed, and more than 500 were wounded. Many of them were awarded state awards, some posthumously.
After the start of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, "cyborgs" are again defending the Motherland with weapons.
On the Day of Remembrance of the DAP defenders, the head of the President's Office, Andrii Yermak, said on Telegram: "People persevered, concrete did not. The nation is invincible. That is why we will win."
For his part, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, noted: "Indomitable warriors who endured, but concrete did not. Invincible. Strong, Brave. Our heroes! We remember. We will take revenge and win."
