Abstract In February 2022, the Russian airborne assault on Hostomel or Antonov International Airport marked a critical failure in Moscow’s strategy for the rapid capture of Kyiv. Intended as a strategic gateway to the capital, the airport was not secured as a functional airbridge due to a combination of Ukrainian resistance and operational missteps by Russian forces. The determined defence of Hostomel Airport bought valuable time to reinforce Kyiv’s defences and ultimately played a decisive role in thwarting Russia’s plan to encircle the capital.
Valentin Areh (Sun,) studied this question.