The Ukrainian airport Kherson is currently the only airport that was occupied by the armed forces of the Russian Federation in the course of the military attack. According to airport boss Vitaliy Kucheruk, this is under Russian control and is used as a launch pad for military aircraft.
Kucheruk made his way across Ukraine by car on back roads to be able to report on the current state of affairs in the Kherson region in Cluj, Romania. The manager said that it is very difficult to get out of southern Ukraine at the moment because “there is a real war here. Russia invaded us. It's a real, brutal war."
According to him, Kherson airport was hit by Russian missiles in the middle of the night. Shortly thereafter, the Russian Federation Army occupied this airport with tanks and other military equipment. In the meantime, this is completely under the control of Russia and Kucheruk does not know what is still functional there – apart from the runway, which is used by the Russians. The workforce no longer has access to the area and does not want it at the moment, because they do not want to work with the Russian army.
The Kherson director assumes that the airport he actually manages is badly damaged. The government had invested around 30 million euros in modernizing the airport. In a few weeks it should be reopened with a renewed runway, improved lighting and a new radar system. Nothing will come of it, because Russia fired rockets at Kherson airport, then occupied it and is now using the runway for air strikes on other regions of Ukraine.
Airport employees stuck in war zone
Kucheruk said almost all airport employees were unable to escape. Their homes have been destroyed and leaving the city and the oblast is life-threatening. He took it upon himself to be able to report on the currently bad situation in Cluj. When asked how the West could help, the manager first replied that the Ukrainian people "are grateful to the free world" for the many donations from civilians. All help is needed and one is grateful that there is so much humanitarian aid from ordinary people from Europe and the rest of the world.
Militarily, Ukraine absolutely needs more material to defend against missiles. He also thinks it is important that countries like Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovakia make their Soviet-era fighter jets available. “We need these planes. Ukraine can't do anything with Eurofighters because nobody can fly them. However, the machines from Soviet times can be used immediately. There is currently no time for pilot training at all,” said Kucheruk.
The head of the Kherson airport also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin made a serious mistake. “He assumed that his army would be warmly received in Ukraine. A fatal mistake, because we don't want Putin with us and we are defending our country. Russia was previously considered the second strongest army in the world. So far only one out of 43 oblasts has been occupied,” said Vitaliy Kucheruk. “The civilian population is resisting where it can. There are strikes and peaceful demonstrations. But that doesn't suit the Russians at all. Among other things, they use tear gas and shoot in the air to spread fear and terror."
The Kherson chief stated that the Russian army would target civilian airports in Ukraine to destroy them. Some people have already died, although there are no official figures. Anything planned or aspired to before the war is meaningless now. It's all about survival and getting the Russian army out of the country. “We will not be occupied by Russia. Not our airport and certainly not our country. Only when we have chased Putin out of Ukraine can we start thinking about reconstruction. Until then, the Ukrainian people are grateful for any help”.