In the opening hours of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, elite VDV troops of the Russian military carried out an airborne assault on the Antonov Airfield near the city of Hostomel. Their objective was to capture the airport and its runways so reinforcements and supplies could be flown in via transport planes. This was not to be, as the Ukrainian defenders responded quickly to the assault, fending off the VDV invaders long enough to destroy the airstrips they were trying to capture. Most of these elite VDV soldiers perished in the failed attempt. This 8th layer VDV jacket was captured in the Hostomel area and bears the ribbon of St. George on both sleeves. This piece captures a very specific and important moment in Ukraine’s fight for freedom. Pictured are VDV soldiers at Antonov Airport in Hostomel.
In the opening hours of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, elite VDV troops of the Russian military carried out an airborne assault on the Antonov Airfield near the city of Hostomel. Their objective was to capture the airport and its runways so reinforcements and supplies could be flown in via transport planes. This was not to be, as the Ukrainian defenders responded quickly to the assault, fending off the VDV invaders long enough to destroy the airstrips they were trying to capture. Most of these elite VDV soldiers perished in the failed attempt. This 8th layer VDV jacket was captured in the Hostomel area and bears the ribbon of St. George on both sleeves. This piece captures a very specific and important moment in Ukraine’s fight for freedom. Pictured are VDV soldiers at Antonov Airport in Hostomel.