On January 19, 2015, militants blew up part of the ceiling of the second floor of the new Donetsk airport terminal, where the Ukrainian servicemen were situated. Afterwards, the flight control tower, which was heroically held by only six cyborgs of the 90th separate airmobile battalion, was completely destroyed. After the explosions in the new terminal, an offensive began from all sides. However, Ukrainian defenders continued heroically defending the ruins of the tower.

The defence of Donetsk airport showed that Ukrainian defenders are able to repel any enemy, even if it has significant advantages.

Every year, on January 20, in the day of ending the defence of airport, the Ukrainians commemorate the warriors-heroes – the defenders of Donetsk airport.