The Battle for Hostomel airfield significantly impacted the fate of Ukraine. Russian forces aimed to capture the airfield to facilitate troop and equipment landings to swiftly take Kyiv and overthrow the Ukrainian government. Despite initial setbacks for Russian forces due to Ukrainian resistance and well-placed defense tactics, Ukraine was able to recapture Hostomel, stalling Russia's advance and ultimately contributing to the failure of their rapid invasion strategy.
The Original Russian Plan for Hostomel Airfield #
- Objective: Seize Hostomel Airfield for rapid troop and equipment deployment to capture Kyiv.
- Phased Approach:
- Phase 1 (Helicopter Assault): 300 paratroopers (31st Guards Air Assault Brigade and 45th Spetsnaz Brigade) transported by 20 Mi-8 helicopters, escorted by 10 Ka-52 and older Mi-24 attack helicopters from Belarus.
- Phase 2 (Airborne Reinforcement): Approximately 1,000 additional soldiers from Russia (estimated 76th Guards Air Assault Division) via 18 Il-76 transport planes, landing on the secured runway.
- Phase 3 (Ground Reinforcement): Overland troops from Belarus to link up with airborne forces and advance into Kyiv.
- Overall Goal: Overthrow the Ukrainian government and take control of the country.
Russian Execution - Initial Stage #
- Departure: 09:00, 30 helicopters from Bokov Airfield, Belarus, heading south along the Dnipro River.
- Low-Altitude Flight: Helicopters flew at "nap of the earth" level to avoid Ukrainian radar, bypassing air defense sites north of Kyiv.
- Border Crossing: 09:30, crossed Ukrainian border unnoticed.
- Detection: Spotted near a dam north of Kyiv, prompting Ukrainian air defenses to open fire.
- Early Losses: One Mi-24 shot down, one Ka-52 damaged and crash-landed.
- Miscalculation: Russians expected minimal resistance, led to an inadequately sized and armed force for holding the airport.
- Arrival at Hostomel: 10:30, helicopters reached Hostomel Airfield.
Hostomel Airfield Layout and Ukrainian Defense #
- Airfield Features:
- Antonov airport, home to Antonov aircraft including Maria.
- Two large hangars.
- Radar array at the north end.
- Military buildings (including barracks) and residential areas to the southeast.
- Reinforced concrete runway, over 2 miles long.
- Ukrainian Preparedness:
- Around 200 soldiers on alert since 06:00 after two rockets hit the airfield.
- Radar Defense: 20 men guarding the radar.
- Hangar Defense: Rest of the "mostly conscripts and administrative officers" spread near the hangars.
- Armament: Zu-23-2 anti-aircraft gun, rifles, Igla anti-air rocket launchers.
- Tactics: Vehicles parked across the runway to prevent landings.
- Troop Composition: Primarily from the 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade; not elite troops as Ukraine anticipated the main attack in Donbas.
Battle for Hostomel Airfield - First Wave #
- Engagement: 11:00, Russian helicopters split; attack helicopters targeted the anti-aircraft gun, transports headed south to land troops.
- Heavy Fighting: Russians fired auto-cannons and rockets; Ukrainians responded with all available weapons.
- Russian Losses:
- One Ka-52 shot down by an anti-air rocket, crash-landed on the runway (creating another obstacle).
- Two more Ka-52s lost (one crashed and exploded, one crash-landed intact).
- One Mi-24 blown up south of the runway.
- One Mi-8 damaged and later blown up on the airstrip.
- Collateral Damage: Maria aircraft in its hangar set on fire; fuel tanks ablaze; black smoke obstructed visibility.
- Ukrainian Retreat: Troops ran out of ammunition and were ordered to fall back to the barracks.
- Russian Landing & Consolidation: Russians landed troops to the west and northeast, overwhelming radar guards, who surrendered.
- Final Ukrainian Resistance: Gun battle near hangars; Ukrainians forced to withdraw into residential buildings.
- Russian Capture: 13:00 (2 hours after battle began), Russians raised their flag over the airport barracks, securing the airfield.
Failure of Russian Reinforcements and Ukrainian Counterattack #
- Aborted Airlift: 18 Il-76 transport planes with 1,000 troops from Pskov, Russia, were roughly two-thirds into their 2-hour flight when forced to abandon mission due to Ukrainian actions.
- Ukrainian Reinforcements:
- Realized the importance of stopping the airlift.
- The 2-hour hold by initial defenders bought crucial time.
- 72nd Mechanized Brigade: From Kyiv and Bila Tserkva (50 miles south), transported heavy armor with civilian truck assistance ("March of Life").
- 80th Air Assault and 95th Air Assault: From Zhytomyr (70 miles west), flown in by helicopters.
- Airfield Rendering Useless: Arriving Ukrainian artillery immediately cratered the runway, preventing Russian landings.
- Stranded Paratroopers: Russian paratroopers at Hostomel, without heavy weapons or air support, were stranded.
- Ukrainian Counteroffensive:
- 15:30, Zelensky ordered the attack to retake the airfield.
- Ukrainian Airborne (from west) and 72nd Mechanized (from east) encircled and overwhelmed Russian defenders.
- Ukrainian artillery and Su-25 bombers shelled the runway further.
- Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopters provided close air support.
- Russian Defeat:
- Reinforcement column from Belarus snarled south of Chernobyl due to poor logistics and Ukrainian attacks.
- Outnumbered and outgunned, Russian paratroopers were driven off, suffering heavy casualties.
- Survivors chased into nearby fields.
- Ukrainian Recapture: 21:00, Hostomel airport fully back under Ukrainian control.
- Post-Capture: Russian armored column arrived the following day; Ukrainians withdrew but shelled the airport again to prevent repairs.
Tactical Reasons for Russian Failure #
- Lack of Surprise: Ukrainians, aware of past Russian tactics (Czechoslovakia 1968, Afghanistan 1979, Crimea 2014) involving airfield seizure, anticipated this move for Kyiv.
- Marshal of Combined Arms Armored Troops, Valerii Zaluzhnyi (Ukraine's top General), was trained in Soviet doctrine and understood Russian military thinking.
- Lost Speed: The 200 initial Ukrainian defenders held the airport for two crucial hours, preventing an immediate Russian airlift and allowing Ukrainian reinforcements to arrive.
- Broken Sequencing:
- Poor Russian logistics and Ukrainian resistance blocked the overland column from Belarus.
- Ukrainian forces cratered the runway, nullifying its purpose before Russian air reinforcements could land.
- Kyiv's Defense: With the Hostomel airfield secured, Kyiv had time to organize a defensive perimeter that Russian troops could not breach.
Conclusion of the Battle #
- Hostomel became the closest Russia's troops got to Kyiv.
- A defensive line through Hostomel, Bucha, and Irpin bogged down Russians for weeks.
- April 1: Russia withdrew from northern Kyiv regions, abandoning the capital's capture.
- The battle forced Russia to refocus its war effort on Donbas.
Additional Content (Abrams Tank) #
- Topic: Analysis of the M1A1 Abrams tank's performance in Ukraine.
- Context: First footage of an Abrams tank being destroyed by Russian forces near Avdiivka in February.
- Tank Overview:
- 31 Abrams M1A1 tanks provided by the US to Ukraine (47th Brigade).
- Entered service in 1986.
- 60 tons, gas turbine engine (multi-fuel), 120mm main cannon.
- Chobham composite armor for crew protection.
- Ammunition stored in an armored compartment at the back of the turret with blast doors and blowout panels for crew safety during an explosion.
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