A symbol of the indomitability of Ukrainian soldiers: a 3D designer from Mykolaiv created a LEGO model of the Donetsk airport

The founder of the MiNiMISTO project, a designer from Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Yermolaev, created a model of the building of the Donetsk International Airport, destroyed in the fighting, from a LEGO set.

The author timed the work to honor the memory of the fallen in the «cyborg» battles, he announced on Facebook.

The airport in Donetsk has existed since 1933, but in 2007 the construction of a new ultra-modern 4-kilometer runway began. Such colossal dimensions made it impossible to effectively manage flights from the old terminal building, so a new control building was needed, which was built in 2011. The 51-meter tower became the tallest among similar buildings in Ukraine.

Layout of the international airport «Donetsk», photo: Oleksandr Yermolaev

«On May 14, 2012, the grand opening of the new airport complex took place, and the very next day, life was bustling here. The updated DAP (abbreviated name of the airport, — note) is among the three largest and most modern airports in Ukraine and among the ten largest in Europe. But, unfortunately, the carefree life here did not last long,» says the architect.

In March 2014, the Donetsk airport was guarded by the military of the 3rd separate special forces regiment and the 95th separate airmobile brigade. This measure arose against the background of the aggressor's deployment of separatism in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Already in April, the Russians unsuccessfully tried to capture the airport.

An important role in the defense was played by the control tower, which became not only a fortress, but also a point of observation and adjustment of fire, says Oleksandr Yermolaev.

The fighting for the airport lasted from May 26, 2014 to January 22, 2015 and ended after the complete destruction of the old and new terminals. According to official data, 109 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, 446 were wounded, and 6 were missing in the battles for DAP.

Donetsk International Airport before the Russian aggression, photo: Facts

The tower of the Donetsk airport destroyed during the defense, photo: Reuters

Among those who defended the resort were also military personnel of Mykolaiv 79 brigade.

Fighting on the territory of Mykolaiv International Airport

At the beginning of March 2022, during the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, fierce battles broke out between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Russian occupiers on the territory of the Mykolaiv airport.

The Ukrainian defenders managed to repulse the enemy's attacks and prevent him from taking positions at an important strategic point. However, as a result of the battle, the airport was subjected to devastating shelling by the Russian troops and was actually destroyed.

See how Mykolaiv International Airport looks like after the battles in the photo report of «Nikvesti».

243.4 million hryvnias of damages were caused to the environment due to shelling of the utility company.

At the end of December 2023, the Mykolaiv Regional Council included in its program of actions the restoration of the airport in 2024.