Hostomel Airport

Hostomel Airport, officially known as Antonov Airport (ICAO: UKKM), is located in Hostomel, a town approximately 25 kilometers northwest of Kyiv, Ukraine. It served primarily as a cargo, ferry, and flight-testing facility operated by the Antonov State Enterprise, the renowned Ukrainian aircraft design and manufacturing company. The airport gained international attention in February 2022 when it became a focal point of intense fighting during the early stages of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces attempted to seize the airport in an airborne assault, recognizing its strategic value as a potential staging ground close to Kyiv. The facility suffered severe damage during the conflict. Prior to the war, Hostomel was home to the Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world's largest cargo aircraft, which was destroyed during the fighting in February 2022. The airport had been used for heavy-lift cargo operations and humanitarian missions globally.