The opening of the exhibition "Airport.242" by Oleh Drobotskyi (call sign "Artist") was held in the Museum of War in honor of the Day of Commemoration of the Defenders of Donetsk Airport.
"Airport.242" is 24 works by the artist, volunteer, soldier Oleh Drobotskyi, who died on March 6, 2023 in the battles near the village of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut district. They were created based on the photos of the famous journalist and photographer, author of the book "Airport" Serhii Loik.
The event was opened by the Deputy Director General of the Museum, Oksana Yankovenko. "The defense of Donetsk airport," she emphasized, "is one of those battles that will go down in world history as an uncompromising example of resilience. It is symbolic that today we are honoring the defenders of the Donetsk Airport with the presentation of an exhibition of the works of an artist who put aside paints and brushes and stood up for the defense of the Motherland."
Oleh Drobotskyi’s parents – Ihor Yevhenovich and Olha Illivna – came to the presentation of the exhibition of their son’s works. Mr. Ihor recalled how Oleh got the idea to draw "cyborgs" and Donetsk airport: "The battle for the airport inspired him right away. And over time, Oleh created a whole series of works that were exhibited both in Ukraine and abroad. He took up the weapon himself. "Cyborgs" gave him and his brothers the motivation to defend their country. Oleg was killed during massive artillery shelling of the positions of the 67th brigade near Bakhmut, but his works continue to tell the story of our soldiers."
The parents gave Oleh Drobotskyi’s personal belongings to the Museum’s fund collection, which testify to him as a courageous warrior and a talented artist.
The Ministry for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Natalia Kalmykova, speaking, emphasized the importance of the defense of Donetsk Airport for the entire society: "In 2014-2015 Donetsk Airport became a symbol of indomitability. And I am sure that the feat of the "cyborgs" was an example for our current Defenders, a seed that grew into powerful patriotism. And the War Museum has become a place of living implementation of military and patriotic education. It is here that every day they tell about how freedom was fought for and is being fought for, and our spirit is hardened."
And the deputy head of the Department of Humanitarian Support of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Serhiienko drew attention to the importance of rallying around the memory of the fighters for our freedom: "We honor the memory of the "cyborgs" who wrote an unprecedented page of resilience and courage in our history. Today, our Defenders write pages of struggle every day. And it is our duty to remember everyone and take revenge for them. I thank the Museum for organizing this event, which unites us in a common goal."
The commander of the legendary "cyborgs" Oleh Kuzminykh also visited the Museum. In his concise speech, he remembered his brothers: "They endured 242 days of hard fighting, did not retreat, despite everything. We will honor them."
The initiator of the creation of the exhibition project "Airport.242" Iryna Zubkova, the organizer and funder of the annual commemoration and honoring of the fallen "cyborgs" in the city of Kyiv, read a letter from one of the defenders of the Donetsk airfield – Andrii Kazmirchuk: "Time goes on relentlessly. This is already the 10th anniversary of the Donetsk Airport defense. This strategic object has endured a lot, people have endured even more. Every day there is a struggle for honor and dignity. But among the ruins we saw the light of hope."
A real surprise for those present was a small impromptu musical performance by Taras Topolia, a military man and frontman of the band "Antytila".
Viacheslav Kupriienko, a former military man, author and songwriter, also presented his own composition.
The event was moderated by Iryna Kotsabiuk, curator of the exhibition project "Airport.242", head of the scientific exhibition department of the War Museum.
And the National Presidential Orchestra provided musical accompaniment to the event. Ukrainian patriotic songs were performed by the military creative team.
