Ukraine International Airlines (PS, Kyiv Boryspil) has announced the suspension of flights to the troubled eastern city of Donetsk after the airport was seized yesterday from Ukrainian army regulars by separatists loyal to the pro-Russian, self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Donetsk.
“The people’s army has the airport in Donetsk back under control. We are rooting out Kiev's last remaining troops. Airstrikes have stopped for now,” said a tweet from the separatist movement.
As talks between the two sides dragged on, Ukrainian army Mi-24 helicopters and air force Sukhoi Su-25s, MiG 29s fighter jets were seen circling in the vicinity of the airfield. Air strikes reportedly commenced on rebel positions when a 13h00L deadline to surrender passed.
Subject to a change in the situation on the ground, Ukraine's State Aviation Service has halted all air traffic both into and out of the airport until 09h00L on Tuesday, May 27.
Donetsk is also served by Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo), Ellinair (ELB, Thessaloniki), flydubai (FZ, Dubai International), Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt International), Pegasus Airlines (PC, Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen), Turkish Airlines (TK, Istanbul Airport), Turkmenistan Airlines (T5, Ashgabat), UTair (UT, Khanty-Mansiysk), and Wizz Air Ukraine (Kyiv Igor Sikorsky).
