Second Battle of Donetsk Airport

Despite a ceasefire between the government of Ukraine and the breakaway Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) that was in place since the implementation of the 5 September 2014 Minsk Protocol, fierce fighting broke out at Donetsk International Airport on 28 September. DPR-affiliated insurgents launched an offensive after the Ukrainian army stationed at the airport shelled Donetsk, the airport is the last public area in the city of Donetsk that is still under Ukrainian control.

Events
Fighting began at Donetsk Airport on 29 September, when seven Ukrainian soldiers were killed during clash with pro-Russian rebels. Ukrainian government sources claimed that a tank shell hit a vehicle carrying Ukrainian troops. Fierce fighting occurred, with Ukrainian forces suffering losses. The attack killed nine Ukrainian soldiers and wounding 27 more.

The next day, rebel positions pounded Ukrainian forces at the airport, but the rebels say they fought back in response to mortar fire by government forces. A key rebel leader supported this claim, saying Ukrainian forces were "still shelling Donetsk".

On 1 October, more fighting occurred. Ukrainian forces and rebels exchanged fire near the airport, killing ten civilians. Rebel leaders said that they controlled 90% of the airport.

The next day, rebel forces claim that the airport was under 95% of there control, but this was denied by government forces. Fighting soon escalated, with rebel forces violating the ceasefire that had been put in place. Sporadic shelling continued. The airport was still reported to be in government hands, and repelled a one-hour attack on the airport by rebels. The situation, according to Ukraine, is "difficult".

On 3 October, more heavy fighting erupted around the airport, with artillery fire heard near the site. Ukraine claimed that rebels managed to break in into one of the terminal buildings under the cover of smoke bombs but the airport was still under their complete control. They also said that Ukrainian forces had pushed back the rebels from half of the building, and Russian drones were supporting them. Rebels tanks pounded the airport terminal, where government forces were holed up. Sniper shots were fired, with rebels making gains in territory near the airport. Meanwhile, government forces said they killed 10 militants and destroyed 2 of their tanks.

The next day, pro-Russian rebels suffered losses. Ukrainian forces claimed that they killed 12 rebels in attacks on the airport.

On 9 October, Ukrainian forces repulsed another rebel attack on their positions in the Donetsk airport, while the rebels claimed that most of the airport is under their control.