The world’s largest transport carrier, the AN-225 (Antonov AN-225), was destroyed on the 27th of February by the invading Russian forces in Ukraine. Initially, the reports came in when a satellite image from Maxar technologies was released that showed significant damage to the Hostomel Air Base, especially the hangar in which the AN-225 was said to be stored.
However, the confirmation is still to come. The Antonov Company’s Twitter made a statement that “Update on the information of AN-225 “Mriya” aircraft: Currently until the AN-225 has been inspected by experts, we cannot report on the technical condition of the aircraft.”
This was the world’s largest aircraft, AN-225 ‘Mriya’ (‘Dream’ in Ukrainian). Russia may have destroyed our ‘Mriya’. But they will never be able to destroy our dream of a strong, free and democratic European state. We shall prevail! pic.twitter.com/TdnBFlj3N8
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 27, 2022
According to the director of Antonov Airlines, the aircraft was parked in the hangar because one of the engines was dismantled for repair works, and so the plane did not take off on the 27th. The AN-225 named “Mriya,” which literally translates to “dream,” occupied a cult status in the aviation industry and was hailed as one of the most remarkable innovations in the industry.
The foreign minister of Ukraine took to Twitter and wrote that “this was the world’s largest aircraft, AN-225′ Mriya’ (‘Dream’ in Ukrainian). Russia may have destroyed our ‘Mriya’. But they will never be able to destroy our dream of a strong, free and democratic European state. We shall prevail!”
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The AN-225 has a history of successes and achievements. In 2020, the world’s largest transport aircraft, AN-225 Mriya, performed humanitarian flights and delivered medical supplies to combat the coronavirus. The plane was even drafted to airlift supplies to help the earthquake-ridden Haiti and supplied relief to its neighbor, the Dominican Republic.
The plane also holds the record for having the largest wingspan and the heaviest aircraft ever built. The AN-225 came into service in the late 1980s, and if news of its destruction is confirmed, it would mark the end to 30 years of service of the aircraft.
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The Ukrainian state defense company has vowed to rebuild ( if destroyed) the plane at Russia’s expense, and the expected cost of restoration is around $3 billion. Russia started its invasion of Ukraine on the 24th of February and has since invaded many strategic cities. The international community has repeatedly called for collective action against Russia, but till now, Russia has been ingressing unabated.