Kremlin-backed insurgents have gone on the offensive, taking over most of the Donetsk Airport by Jan. 22 and killing more Ukrainian soldier. The airport had been under Ukrainian control for nine months.
Some 35 Ukrainian fighters have been killed, including at least 21 servicemen in Donetsk airport, through Jan. 15-21 according to the Kyiv Post count, based on official reports, unofficial sources and information from the family. At least 24 Ukrainian fighters have been captured in the last two days.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported some 148 civilians were killed since the cease-fire agreement was signed in Minsk in September. Moreover, at least seven civilians were killed and up to 20 wounded when mortars hit a bus stop in Donetsk in the morning of Jan. 22.
Ukrainian officials report Russia is boosting its military presence across the border. Oleksandr Turchynov, the head of the National Security and Defense Council, said that separatists backed by Russian regular troops have been building up its forces along the the frontlines in Donbas on Jan. 22.
The following is the list of those known to be killed through Jan. 16-20:
Jan. 16
Vitaliy Karakula, 27, a soldier of the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre. He was killed near Debaltseve. He leaves his parents in his native village in Khmelnytsky Oblast.
Jan 17-18
Volodymyr Trukh, 22, a solider of 80th airborne brigade from Ternopil Oblast. He was mobilized to the army in August. His comrades said he has been serving in the anti-terrorist zone since November. Trukh was killed in Donetsk airport. “I couldn’t believe it happened with him. He was a lucky one,” Yaroslav Maznyk, a friend of Trukh, was quoted as saying during the mourning on Jan. 21. “He always tried to rescue his comrades, that’s why he was killed,” Maznyk said.
Yuriy Kushnir, 36, a member of the 80th airborne brigade from Khotyn in Chernivtsi Oblast. He was mortally wounded in a fight for Donetsk airport. He died later in a hospital.
Dmytro Furdyk, 36, a captain of the unit of the 93rd mechanized brigade. He was shot by a sniper while trying to rescue his wounded comrade in a building of Donetsk airport. His comrades recalled he was an active American football player. Ukraine’s International Federation of American Football posted a tribute to Furdyk on their website. “Dmytro Furdyk died like a hero,” reads the statement. “The war claims lives of the best people.” Furdyk was mourned in his native city of Vilnyansk in Zaporizhzhiya Oblast.
Maksym Presniakov, 28, a captain of intelligence unit of 93 mechanized brigade from Cherkasy Oblast. Presniakov, professional serviceman, was sent to the war zone in July 2014. His comrades recalled he planned to make a film about Ukrainian army and to marry. He was killed overnight Jan. 18 in Donetsk airport.
Tamaz Sukhishvili, 35, Georgian native, a member of the 93rd mechanized brigade. Sukhishvili was a professional serviceman, he moved to Ukraine from Georgia and volunteered to the army. He was killed in Donetsk airport. “Tamaz, I know you were a real solider, you knew that every death during the war is a part of the profession. But, I have no words to thank you, because you felt our war as if it was yours,” Yuriy Butusov, Ukrainian journalist, posted to his Facebook page. Sukhishvili leaves a wife and two sons.
Serhiy Surzhenko, 29, a soldier of the 95th airborne brigade from Kirovohrad Oblast. He was killed near Yasynuvata in Donetsk Oblast.
Dmytro Ivakh, 25, a captain of one of the units of the 95th airborne brigade. He had been serving in the east of Ukraine since spring. Ivakh was killed in Donetsk airport on Jan. 18. He leaves his wife and parents in his native Khmelnytsky.
Serhiy Parubets, 19, a soldier of the 95th airborne brigade. “You are our hero, it would be impossible to find a better friend than you,” one of his friends posted on his page in social networks. Parubets was killed in Donetsk airport on Jan. 18. He leaves his parents in Chernihiv Oblast. done
Jan. 19
Oleksiy Panchenko, 40, a member of the 95th airborne brigade from Cherkasy Oblast. He used to work for fire brigade and then became the one of the heads of the local State Inspection of the land transport security. Panchenko volunteered to the army. He was deployed to the east in November and killed in the fight for Donetsk airport. Panchenko leaves a wife and a son.
Oleksandr Atamanchuk, 24, a soldier of 95th airborne brigade from Zhytomyr Oblast. He spent summer in the east and was wounded in September. After treatment, Atamanchuk came back to the war zone. He was killed in a fight for Donetsk airport.
Jan 20
Volodymyr Markovsky, 26, a member of 95th airborne brigade. Markovsky was a professional serviceman. He was killed while defending Donetsk airport. Markovsky leaves his parents in Lviv, he was the only son in his family.
Vitaliy Dmytrenko, 29, a soldier of the 28th mechanized brigade from Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. He was mobilized to the army in autumn and killed on Jan. 20. He leaves a wife and two children in his native city of Kryvyi Rih.
Ihor Didach, 40, Ukrainian National Guard solider from Lviv Oblast. He used to work in a hospital and later volunteered to the army. He became was sent to the east in April. He came back to his hometown once, and later came back to the war zone. He was severely wounded on Jan. 5 when a truck and a bus, carrying National Guard members, struck each other on the road connecting Artyomivsk and Sloviansk. He died later in Kyiv’s military hospital on Jan. 17. He leaves a wife and two daughters in Lviv Oblast.
