On 20 January, Ukraine pays tribute to the “cyborgs” who held the defence of Donetsk airport for over 242 days. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote about this on Telegram.
“242 days of defence of Donetsk airport. They held out to the last where it seemed impossible. This is a story of extraordinary courage. It is about people who withstood where concrete could not,” the President said.
He called on everyone to remember the price paid for freedom and Ukraine’s present.
- The battle for Donetsk airport lasted from 26 May 2014 to 22 January 2015. On 19-20 January 2015, around 60 soldiers were killed when Russian militants blew up the columns supporting the airport. On 21 January 2015, ATO forces withdrew from the destroyed facility.