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Oh without a doubt Ukraine constantly put them under pressure ( I'd assume ) causing a loss of men and equipment they wouldn't have expected.
Once disembarked, the Russian airborne units began to capture the airport. Russian forces initially secured the airport,[5] evicting a small number of National Guard defenders which had been stationed at the locality.[8] This success was due to the Ukrainian military being taken by surprise by the speed of the initial Russian attack, despite the preparations made after the CIA's warning.[15] The paratroopers then began preparing for the arrival of 18 Ilyushin Il-76 strategic airlifters carrying fresh troops from Russia.[21] However, the paratroopers were soon beset by local armed civilians and the 3rd Special Purpose Regiment.[8] At the "critical moment" of the battle,[8] a large-scale Ukrainian counterattack was launched by the 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade of the National Guard,[5] backed by the Ukrainian Air Force.[8] Lacking armored vehicles, the Russian forces were dependent on air support to stave off the Ukrainian advances. Two Russian Su-25s were witnessed attacking Ukrainian positions. Ukrainian warplanes which survived the opening Russian missile strikes took part in providing air support for the National Guard units; these included at least two Su-24s and a MiG-29.[5] The Ukrainians were swift in rushing more troops to the airport to support the counter-attack. These reinforcements included the Georgian Legion,[7] and a unit of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.[6] With the battle ongoing, the Russian Ilyushin Il-76 could not land; they were possibly forced to return to Russia.[21]
After encircling the airport, the Ukrainians drove out the Russian forces by the evening. The surviving Russian airborne troops retreated to the woods outside of the airport.[5][22][23][24][25] Georgian Legion commander Mamuka Mamulashvili later claimed that his men ran out of ammunition in the battle, whereupon he used his car to run over retreating Russian paratroopers.[7] Later, the 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade posted on their Facebook page an image of their soldiers celebrating the victory, while holding a Ukrainian flag riddled with bullet holes.[
This maybe where the Ilyushin being shot down came from? It's the only reference I've found in regards to that plane. Apart from non confirmed reports..
The next day
On 25 February 2022, Russian mechanized ground forces advancing from Belarus combined with another air assault by the VDV, took control of the airport after partially breaking through Ukrainian defenses at the Battle of Ivankiv.[19][29] Some of the armored vehicles were ambushed before reaching Hostomel, halting the reinforcements for a time, but nonetheless they entered the airport and helped to expel the Ukrainian defenders.[8] According to the Russian Ministry of Defence,[30] the capture came following an operation that involved some 200 helicopters. The figure of about 200 Ukrainian casualties and no casualties on the Russian side was announced ( Lol as if ).[9] This claim was met with skepticism, with Timur Olevsky, a journalist who witnessed the battle, outright refuting this claim.[5][19] Nevertheless, Russian ground forces established a foothold in Hostomel and began to man checkpoints inside the town. It was speculated that the Ukrainian defenders may have sabotaged the runway ahead of the advancing Russian ground forces.[5]
The Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs initially denied that the airport had been fully captured by the Russian forces, stating that it had been "changing hands" and that the battle was ongoing. The Ministry of Internal Affairs also insisted that the Russian claim of the massive Ukrainian casualties was "an absolute lie",[31] while the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence declared that the airfield was too badly damaged to be used by Russian troops.[13] Later in the day, Ukraine confirmed that Russian forces were in control of thairport.
As of 27 February 2022, the airport remained under Russian control as clashes began to shift to the towns of Bucha and Irpin to the south,[43] where Ukrainian forces claimed to have halted the Russian advances, contesting Russian forces in Hostomel amid intense fighting.[44][45][46][47] On 27 February, the Security Service of Ukraine released an alleged intercepted conversation of Russian forces in Hostomel reporting casualties and requesting to be evacuated.[48][49]
Then there's very little reports on the airport for a month untill they withdrew. Id lean to your theory of night attacks and constant harassment personally.
As of 28 March 2022, satellite imagery showed no Russian forces inside the airport.[55] On 29 March, Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Alexander Fomin announced a withdrawal of Russian forces from the Kyiv area,[56] including the abandonment of Hostomel Airport.[57]
By 2 April, Ukrainian forces had regained control of the airport following a large-scale Russian withdrawal along the Kyiv axis.[58] In their hasty retreat, Russian troops destroyed much of their own equipment, while other materiel was captured intact by the Ukrainians. In addition, other Russian equipment had been destroyed by Ukrainian artillery strikes before the withdrawal. Overall, Russia lost at least 7 armoured fighting vehicles, 23 infantry fighting vehicles, 3 armoured personnel carriers, 1 anti-aircraft gun, 2 field artillery pieces, 3 helicopters, as well as 67 trucks, vehicles and jeeps at Antonov Airport.[15]
Too be honest... I'm surprised they even cared enough about their troops to withdraw them , I thought Russia was far more dismissive of lives than its hardware.
