January 20, 2026, marks the Commemoration Day for the heroes who defended Donetsk Airport in Ukraine. This date signifies the end of fierce battles that began in May 2014.
In 2022, the Minister of Defense and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine officially declared January 20 as Commemoration Day for the defenders of DAP. Previously, the memory of the "cyborgs" was honored on January 16, as reported by Ukrinform.
For 242 days, Ukrainian soldiers, volunteers, medics, and volunteers fought against Russian occupation forces and pro-Russian militants. The battles took place at the international airport "Donetsk" named after Serhiy Prokofiev.
The defenders were called "cyborgs" due to their resilience during the airport's defense. The phrase "People endured, concrete did not" succinctly describes the hardships of their struggle on a small front.
The airport, opened in 1933, underwent significant modernization before Euro 2012: a new terminal and runway were constructed. However, this terminal was destroyed by pro-Russian militants on January 20, 2015, finally obliterating 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. Active fighting began on May 26 when Russian troops and militants entered the new terminal. Thanks to coordinated actions of the Ukrainian military, the airport came back under control.
During the summer of 2014, clashes were sporadic, but starting in September, the conflict escalated again due to violations of the Minsk agreements. Ukrainian troops maintained control over the old and new terminals, while the village of Pisky became a key supply point.
Pro-Russian forces systematically attacked the terminals, but Ukrainian fighters held the line. In December 2014, the old terminal was heavily damaged, and on January 13, 2015, the control tower collapsed, symbolizing the heroism of the defenders.
Fighting in the new terminal occurred across various floors, and when pro-Russian forces detonated the terminal on January 20, many Ukrainian defenders were trapped. On January 22, 2015, the surviving defenders exited the terminal, marking the date as the complete destruction of the airport.
The defense of Donetsk Airport became a significant chapter in the Russian-Ukrainian war.