Terminal Conflict: Donetsk Airport's 10 Years On The Front Lines
- By RFE/RL
Up until May 2014, Donetsk had one of the finest airports in Ukraine. But when fighting broke out there a decade ago, the site was reduced to rubble that remains a no-man's land to this day.
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This June 2012 photo shows the terminal building of the Donetsk Sergei Prokofiev International Airport soon after its opening in May that year.
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Today, this is all that remains of the airport. Over the past 10 years, the facility been reduced to rubble as it sat on, or alongside, the front line in Ukraine.
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The airport is shown under construction in February 2011.
The refurbished Donetsk airport was built in time to host teams and fans for the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, which Ukraine hosted jointly with Poland.
The refurbished Donetsk airport was built in time to host teams and fans for the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, which Ukraine hosted jointly with Poland.
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Bus stops and taxi stands on the grounds of the new airport in June 2012
The facility was named after Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, who was born in what is now the Ukrainian region of Donetsk in 1891.
The facility was named after Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, who was born in what is now the Ukrainian region of Donetsk in 1891.
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Children listen to a musician warming up before he performs inside the airport in March 2014.
At the airport’s opening in May 2012, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister predicted that the sleek new facility's opening would "serve around 4 million passengers a year" by 2015.
At the airport’s opening in May 2012, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister predicted that the sleek new facility's opening would "serve around 4 million passengers a year" by 2015.
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Russian-backed militants patrol inside the airport on May 26, 2014.
Separatists seized the Donetsk facility immediately after a presidential election saw Petro Poroshenko voted into power on May 25, following the ousting of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Separatists seized the Donetsk facility immediately after a presidential election saw Petro Poroshenko voted into power on May 25, following the ousting of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
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A Ukrainian helicopter gunship fires its autocannon at the separatist-held airport on May 26.
By May 27, 2014, the airport had been recaptured by Ukrainian forces, who would hold it for several months as war with Russian-backed separatists spread across the eastern Donbas region.
By May 27, 2014, the airport had been recaptured by Ukrainian forces, who would hold it for several months as war with Russian-backed separatists spread across the eastern Donbas region.
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Russian-backed separatists are seen inside the remains of the Donetsk airport amid the second battle for the airport in October 2014.
In September 2014, separatist forces launched an attack on Ukrainian troops holed up inside the facility. The airport was the only remaining foothold Kyiv had in Donetsk after the eastern city had been taken over by pro-Kremlin forces.
In September 2014, separatist forces launched an attack on Ukrainian troops holed up inside the facility. The airport was the only remaining foothold Kyiv had in Donetsk after the eastern city had been taken over by pro-Kremlin forces.
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A vehicle burns inside the airport in October 16.
Amid close-quarter fighting for control of the facility throughout late 2014 until early 2015, the airport was reduced to rubble as Russian-backed forces eventually regained control.
Amid close-quarter fighting for control of the facility throughout late 2014 until early 2015, the airport was reduced to rubble as Russian-backed forces eventually regained control.
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Graffiti left by Ukrainian fighters is seen inside the airport in March 2015.
From 2015 the airport became a frontline site between Ukrainian and Russian-backed forces and a symbol of the ruination of the largely static trench conflict.
From 2015 the airport became a frontline site between Ukrainian and Russian-backed forces and a symbol of the ruination of the largely static trench conflict.
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A couple looks at the ruins of the airport in April 2017.
After the Kremlin launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the entire territory of the ruined airport was taken over by Russian forces by November that year.
After the Kremlin launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the entire territory of the ruined airport was taken over by Russian forces by November that year.
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The latest available image of the airport ruins, taken on May 26, 2024
Today, the destroyed airport is firmly under Russian control. But with the front line roughly 20 kilometers away, the site remains within reach of Ukrainian artillery, meaning it is likely to remain a wasteland for the foreseeable future.
Today, the destroyed airport is firmly under Russian control. But with the front line roughly 20 kilometers away, the site remains within reach of Ukrainian artillery, meaning it is likely to remain a wasteland for the foreseeable future.
