Kyiv Airport Attack - Russian forces targeted multiple airports and airbases across Ukraine, including Antonov International Airport, about 27 kilometers northwest of Kiev. The airport was attacked by the Russians on February 24, and the Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world's largest operational aircraft, was destroyed during the ensuing conflict. Satellite images taken by Planet on February 28 revealed significant damage to the airport's hangars.
The An-225 was reportedly in maintenance at the time of the attack. Although only the tail of the aircraft is visible in the current satellite images, the damage to the hangar where the An-225 is stored indicates that the aircraft was severely damaged.
Kyiv Airport Attack
The An-225 was a cargo aircraft first used in support of the Soviet space program before being put back into commercial use. Her name "Mriya" means "dream" in Ukrainian.
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote of the attack on Twitter: “This is the largest aircraft in the world. . . . Russia may have destroyed our 'Mriya'. But they can never destroy our dream of a strong, free and democratic European nation. We will win!"
Matthew P. Funaiole is director of iDeas Lab and senior researcher at the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies () in Washington, D.C. Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. He is a senior researcher for image analysis (non-resident) with iDeas Lab and Head of Korea. Jennifer Jun is the program coordinator and research fellow and President of Korea at iDeas Lab.
The comments were produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (), a private, tax-exempt institution focused on international public policy issues. The research is unbiased and not proprietary. does not take a specific policy position. Therefore, all views, positions and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood as those of the author.
Comments, Critical Questions and Bulletins, Crossroads of Crisis: Ukraine, Defense and Security, Geopolitics and International Security, High Definition, Russia and Eurasia, Satellite Images, Special Initiatives "Mria".
Russia Launches Invasion Of Ukraine With Multiple Cities Hit In Initial Missile Strikes
On the first day of the large-scale armed invasion of Ukraine, Russia attacked the Antonov International Airport in Hostomel. Massive airstrikes and airstrikes were aimed at providing a frontal defensive position for the Russian offensive and paving the way for Russian troops to take Kiev. The military convoy advancing from Belarus to the Ukrainian capital should have contributed to the capture of the airport in the first hours after Vladimir Putin's speech. However, Russia's plans for an effective and prolonged lightning strike never materialized. The airport war lasted more than 10 days. Russia faced organized resistance and therefore committed a series of war crimes in Hostomel. These crimes caused significant destruction, including the "Mriya" ("Dream"), the world's largest and most powerful transport aircraft manufactured by Ukraine. At the same time, Russia failed to achieve its main goals, and the international image of the once powerful Russian army was once again tarnished.
Battle arrived in Hostomel around 6:30 am on February 24, 2022. A cruise missile struck the parade of the military base where the Ukrainian National Guard units were stationed. Another explosion occurred in the courtyard of a high-rise building where an ordinary Ukrainian family lived.
Around 8:00 am, a large group of Russian helicopters took off at low altitude over Belarus and headed for Kiev. There are at least 35 aircraft, including the K-52, Mi-24, Mi-28 and Mi-8 with airborne troops on board. The Russians tried to cover up the invasion and use the element of surprise while avoiding detection. However, their sudden appearance was prevented by the guards of a unit of the National Guard of Ukraine, which guarded the Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Station. The Russians attacked in the Kyiv Cistern area. One helicopter crashed into Dnipro due to anti-aircraft missile fire, and another had to make an emergency landing.
After arriving at the airport around 10:00 am, Su-24 bombers accompanied by Russian helicopters and Su-25 attack aircraft fired missiles at Ukrainian positions. At that time, 6 Russian helicopters were shot down by anti-aircraft fire from the MANPADS "Igla" ("Needle") system: 3 Mi-8, 2 Ka-52 and 1 Mi-24. The three planes managed to fly but made an emergency landing in the surrounding areas. Non-critical damage to other aircraft is suspected as the runway remains littered with debris.
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The core of the guard tactical group (about 200 soldiers), which encountered the enemy in the airspace, were soldiers from the support battalions. At the time of the attack, most of the military personnel of the brigade were in the Sieverodonetsk region. Therefore, the first soldiers to repel the enemy were not professional Ukrainian soldiers, but conscripted soldiers. The brigade's press officer vividly described the guards' reaction, describing them as "furious".
It turns out that adequately trained and motivated young soldiers can easily dominate against professionals who are considered the elite of the Russian army. With only small arms, MANPADS and several Zu-23-2 anti-aircraft guns in their hands, they permanently landed several high-tech Russian helicopters. Particularly noteworthy is the $15 million partially armored Ka-52 "Crocodile", which, according to the description provided by the Russians themselves, is "the best helicopter in the world", "filled with smart electronics" and "talented". fly "forward" on the tail. One such "Crocodile" was hit by intense fire from small arms and large-caliber machine guns, and another was shot down by a well, by Junior Lieutenant Serhii Falatiuk, the commander of the anti-aircraft missile detachment of the Ukrainian National Guard. targeted shot. From the Soviet "Igla" MANPADS. Both examples of forced landings punch literal and figurative holes in the "flying tank" image that Russian propaganda attributes to helicopters.
Russia's plan to seize the airport was based more on courage than on operational efficiency. Until then, Russia had not conducted an operation of this magnitude involving attack helicopters and airborne landings. Also, in all operations involving paratroopers, of which modern Russia is proud, paratroopers served as ground infantry. The Ukrainian army has never encountered anything like it in its history. The architects of Russia's so-called "special operations" specifically envisaged the fear and panic among the airport guards, who, in the face of such a formidable air squadron, would calmly and resolutely hasten the capture.
The battle ended without loss for the Ukrainians, but several guards were captured. After the exchange, they remembered that the Russians kept asking themselves why they were shooting at the Russian helicopter during interrogation. The arrogant campaign to seize the airport did not take into account the organized resistance of the Ukrainians. In short, Russia expects a warm welcome.
Russia's Failure To Take Down Kyiv Was A Defeat For The Ages
Another aspect of the enemy attack on the airport was that it was done more professionally. The Russians used the so-called "fire carousel" tactic, where helicopters attacked in groups of 4, rained down their ammunition and returned to the Irpin River, where new groups were already approaching. The uninterrupted and unequal battle lasted several hours.
Despite the fact that the airport guards repulsed the attack by forcing the Russian attack helicopters to withdraw and stopping fire support of the Russian ground forces, the Russian air fleet still managed to take down the Russian troops from the 31st Guards Separate Airborne Assault Brigade (based in Ulianovsk). , Russia). ). Despite losing air support, the Russians demonstrated their prowess by simultaneously landing on three fronts, maneuvering over unusual terrain and quickly evacuating their troops, according to video taken from helmet cameras of Russian paratroopers and Ukrainian attendees attending the event. vulnerable landing points. . Several hours of fighting at the airport and around the Ukrainian National Guard base resulted in the capture of the airport.
At 16:45 the Ukrainian National Guard Brigade posted the results of a hard day on Facebook - the defenders took their flags and the MANPADS and anti-aircraft shells were finished.
Artillery attacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Ukrainian National Guard, Su-24M bombers, Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft and Su-25 attack aircraft, caused extensive damage to the airport and runways. Ukrainian paratroopers then defeated Russian troops in a two-stage operation. First, Ukrainian helicopters bombarded the airport from the air, then the landing forces hunted down their Russian counterparts in the area around the airport that night.
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Released from captivity, the guards later reported that on the third day after the invasion, the invaders ordered them to collect the bodies of at least 80 Russian paratroopers who had been killed and scattered around the airport and military base. In total, about two hundred members of the Russian airborne troops died in the long war.
Ukrainian paratroopers control the airport
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