Verkhovna Rada honors Donetsk airport defenders

Ukrainian MPs have honored the memory of those who died during the defense of the Donetsk airport in 2014-2015.

Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy called on lawmakers to observe a minute of silence before opening a morning plenary meeting of parliament on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"January 16 is informally called the Day of Ukrainian 'Cyborgs.' It was during these winter days that heavy fighting lasted at the Donetsk airport in 2015. Russian invaders attacked the defenders of the Donetsk airport hundreds of times. Concrete could not stand, metal melted, but our Ukrainian soldiers stood firm. Our fighters did not give the Donetsk airport to invaders. It was very symbolic back in January 2015. I will remind you that our fighters left the airport only when there was nothing left of it," Parubiy said.

The speaker also thanked all the servicemen who "in these moments are defending the calm of the entire Ukrainian people." These words were met with applause.

"Congratulations to our warriors and eternal memory to those who perished," Parubiy added.

The defense of the Donetsk airport lasted from May 26, 2014 until January 22, 2015. On January 18-21, 2015, some 58 airport defenders were killed in the blowing up of the Donetsk airport terminal.