Donetsk International Airport

Donetsk Sergei Prokofiev International Airport (Ukrainian: Міжнародний аеропорт "Донецьк") (IATA: DOK, ICAO: UKCC) is a nonoperational airport located 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Donetsk, Ukraine, that was destroyed in 2014 during the War in Donbass.[2][3] It was built in the 1940s and 1950s and rebuilt in 1973 and again from 2011 to 2012. The airport is named after 20th-century composer Sergei Prokofiev, who was a native of Donetsk Oblast.

Donetsk Sergei Prokofiev International Airport

Міжнародний аеропорт "Донецьк"
The ruins of the airport in December 2014 during the War in Donbass.
Summary
Airport typePublic
ServesDonetsk, Ukraine
Elevation AMSL238 m / 781 ft
Coordinates48°04′30″N 037°43′32″E
Map
UKCC
Location in Ukraine
UKCC
UKCC (Donetsk Oblast)
UKCC
UKCC (Ukraine)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
08/26 4,000 13,123 Concrete
Statistics (2014)
Passengers 346,700
Source: Ukrainian AIP at EUROCONTROL[1]

History

Development until 2014
The main terminal prior to the War in Donbass

In accordance with the program of Donetsk for Euro 2012 in 2011, the Ukrainian construction company "Altcom" constructed a new airport terminal, which had been developed by experts from Croatia. The airline Donbassaero had its head office located at the airport,[4] but ceased operations in January 2013.[5]

2014–15 conflict
Main articles: First Battle of Donetsk Airport and Second Battle of Donetsk Airport

On 26 May 2014, separatists from the Donetsk People's Republic with technical assistance from Russian mercenaries seized the airport soon after Petro Poroshenko won the 2014 Ukrainian presidential election. In response, Ukrainian forces launched air attacks to regain control of it from the belligerents.[6] Two civilians and 38 combatants were reported dead, and the Ukrainian military regained control of the airport.[7] Service at the airport has not resumed since the battle.[8]

On 1 October 2014, the belligerents attempted to retake the airport. A spokesman for what the Ukrainian government calls its anti-terrorist operation said Ukrainian forces repelled four attacks on the airport that evening. A T-64 tank was destroyed and seven rebels were killed, Vladyslav Seleznyov told Kanal 5 TV. A reporter for Associated Press in Donetsk said on October 1 that there were indications that the government had lost control of the airport. DNR leader Alexander Zakharchenko said it was "95%" under separatist control. Ukrainian officials insisted the airport was still under government control as of October 2014.[9]

Zakharchenko claimed that the rebels had taken complete control of the airport on 17 January 2015, after a series of battles with pro-government forces over the complex. One day later, it was reported that government forces claimed to have retaken almost all parts of the airport lost to the belligerents in recent weeks, after a mass operation during the night.[10] On 21 January, Ukrainian forces admitted losing control of the airport to the Donetsk People's Republic rebels.[11]

Over the course of battles for the airport, the airport complex suffered extensive damage from constant bombardments and change of hand between pro-government and proxy forces. The main terminal buildings, with their sturdy concrete construction, served as garrisons and shelters for soldiers defending the airport grounds, and as a result the buildings would be subjected to attacks and suffer extensive structural failures, most notably with the collapse of the massive roof over the new terminal building's mezzanine. Similarly, the control tower was contested by opposing forces due to its strategic lookout point, but eventually collapsed in January 2015 during the final leg of the Second Battle of Donetsk Airport.[12][13]

Since the fighting, the ruins of the airport have been cleared of rubble, leaving behind the concrete shells of the new terminal building and adjoining parking garage.

Airlines and destinations

All civilian airline operations including Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, Air Berlin, Aeroflot and flydubai were suspended due to armed conflict in May 2014, and the airport's facilities were subsequently completely destroyed.

Statistics
Donbassaero Airbus A320-200 at Donetsk International Airport
A Donetsk Airport employee pin.
Year[14] Passengers Change on previous year
2009 0488,100
2010 0612,200 025.4%
2011 0829,300 035.5%
2012 1,000,000 020.6%
2013 1,110,400 011.0%
2014 0346,700 (closed due to the War in Donbass) 068.8%
2015 100.0%
2016

Accidents and incidents
  • On 3 November 1996, a group of contract killers dressed in security forces fatigues opened indiscriminate fire at the plane of prominent local businessman Yevhen Shcherban as he disembarked on the apron after a flight from Moscow. Shcherban and his wife were killed, together with an airport ground technician and the plane's flight engineer.[15]
  • On 13 February 2013, South Airlines Flight 8971 crashed when the plane overshot the runway as it attempted an emergency landing, resulting in 5 fatalities.[16][17][18]

See also

References
  1. EAD Basic
  2. "Donetsk Airport Cyborgs". Ukraine Today. 2014-10-15. Retrieved 2014-10-15.
  3. "Донецкий аэропорт потерял стратегическое значение, поэтому отпала необходимость его удерживать – Генштаб". Unian. 29 January 2015.
  4. "Contacts Archived May 31, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." Donbassaero. Retrieved on 27 April 2011. "Headquarter The headquarter of our company is located at international airport “Donetsk”. Address: DONBASSAERO, 1«V», Vzlyotnaya str., Donetsk, 83021, Ukraine"
  5. Donbassaero airline starts bankruptcy proceedings
  6. Ukraine crisis: Battle to control Donetsk airport
  7. "Dozens killed in fighting over Donetsk airport". Big News Network. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  8. Notice for passengers Archived 2014-05-31 at the Wayback Machine International Airport Donetsk. 26 May 2014. Accessed 31 May 2014
  9. "Ukraine rebels renew push to take Donetsk airport". BBC News. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  10. "Ukraine says retake most of Donetsk airport from rebels". World Bullentin. 18 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  11. "Ukraine forces admit loss of Donetsk airport to rebels". The Guardian. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  12. "Новости Донбасса :: В интернете появились фото разгромленного аэропорта имени Прокофьева ФОТО". Novosti.dn.ua. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  13. "Donetsk airport damage captured by drone". BBC. 19 January 2015.
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-05-11. Retrieved 2014-05-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. Донецкая мафия: Щербань Евгений (in Ukrainian)
  16. "Plane crash landing in Ukraine kills at least five: officials". Reuters. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  17. "BBC News - Five killed as plane crash-lands in eastern Ukraine". Bbc.co.uk. 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  18. "Deaths reported in Ukraine plane crash - CNN.com". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2014-08-03.

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