Luhansk International Airport

History

The history of Luhansk Airport begins in 1946, when in order to improve service in the regions, the Ukrainian SSR began work on the 285th aviation division at the site.

Luhansk Airport opened in 1964, with its construction accelerated by the involvement of multiple organizations in the Luhansk region.

In 1974 the airport established the 99th flying division including 6 AN-24 planes, and since 1989, 2 TU–154–B2 planes. By the 1980s there were 100 daily departures, going to almost 70 cities of the Soviet Union, transporting at least 1200 passengers.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, in 2005-2006, the airport and runway were reconstructed, allowing it to take AN-124 aircraft, Airbus A320’s, and Boeing 737’s. By 2013, there were regular scheduled flights to Kyiv, Moscow, and even charter flights to Turkey and Greece.

Closure and destruction

Due to the pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine, airports in the Donbas region were closed, including Mariupol, Donetsk, and Luhansk International Airports. As of April 2014, Ukrainian forces were stationed there as part of the Anti-Terrorist Operation against the Luhansk People’s Republic. A fierce battle for the airport started on June 8, 2014, when Ukrainian forces were blockaded at the site by LPR forces. On June 11, the airport was officially closed. The Ukrainian Military attempted to create an air bridge to supply the besieged forces using 3 Il-76’s from the 25th Transport Aviation Brigade, in which one Ilyushin Il-76 (Registration: 76777) was shot down on June 14, 2014, resulting in the deaths of 49 Ukrainians. On the night of September 1, the last remaining Ukrainian soldiers left the ruined airport, after 146 days of defending. On September 4, the airport finally fell to the separatists.

The airport terminal had been completely demolished by 2015, and eventually in 2019, a road was built over the rubble, where a museum of Luhansk People's Republic military equipment now sits on the runway.

In 2022, Russia reportedly set up a helicopter base on the site of former Luhansk International Airport. As of August 2023, the Russian Air Force has begun basing Kamov Ka-52 attack helicopters at the airport apron and runway, to help support its troops its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

On October 17, 2023, as a part of Operation Dragonfly, the Ukrainian military struck the airport with MGM-140 ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles, leading to the destruction of multiple helicopters of the Russian Air Force.

Airlines and destinations

From December 2009 to its closure in 2014, Luhansk International Airport was a base airport of the Ukrainian airline UTair-Ukraine.

Other airlines such as Ukraine International Airlines and Motor Sich Airlines also operated into Luhansk airport.

Defunct Ukrainian Airline Lugansk Airlines was based out of the airport before it declared bankruptcy in 2010.

Tavrey Airlines had operated into Luhansk Airport but declared bankruptcy in 2008.

Accidents and incidents

• On 31 March 1971, an Antonov AN-10 (Registered CCCP-11145) Crashed due to structural failure of the starboard outer wing while descending from 12000 meters to 600 meters on approach to Luhansk Airport.
• On 14 June 2014, a Ukrainian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft was shot down on approach to Luhansk, killing all on board (9 Crew and 40 Paratroopers). This was the most severe loss suffered by the Ukrainian military since the start of the pro-Russian conflict in February 2014.
• During the battle of Luhansk Airport, 2 Antonov AN-2R aircraft, Registered UR-33587 and UR-33590 were destroyed as a result of fighting between Luhansk People's Republic and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

References

References

1. (19 June 2014). "Три аеропорти на Сході України закрилися до кращих часів".
2. "Восстановление луганского аэропорта может начаться в 2028 году — Минтранс".
3. "Аэропорт Луганск (VSG) – история, рейсы, интересные факты".
4. (26 Aug 2022). "Russia set up two helicopter bases in the Luhansk region".
5. "Russia uses Luhansk airport as base for Ka-52 and Mi-28 helicopters{{!}} Espreso".
6. "Russia uses the Luhansk Airport, Which Has been Inactive Since 2014, to Base Ka-52 and Mi-28 Helicopters (Photo) {{!}} Defense Express".
7. (2023-10-17). "Ukraine uses US-supplied ATACMS for the first time, says Zelensky". BBC News.
8. [http://www.avianews.com/ukraine/2009/december/12a.htm UTair-Ukraine started flights. Avianews. 12 December 2009]