Reports suggest that the world’s largest aircraft – Antonov’s AN-225 Mriya – has been destroyed during Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.
The official Twitter account of Ukraine said yesterday: “The biggest plane in the world ‘Mriya’ (the dream) was destroyed by Russian occupants on an airfield near Kyiv. We will rebuild the plane. We will fulfill our dream of a strong, free, and democratic Ukraine.”
Antonov company put out a statement, also on Twitter, saying that it cannot comment on the technical condition of the aircraft until it has been inspected by experts.
The developments follow an attack on Antonov (Hostomel) Airport, a major air cargo hub in the country, as HLPFI reported here.
Ukrainian state defence company Ukroboronprom said that the restoration of the aircraft could cost over USD3 billion. “Our task is to ensure that these costs are covered by the Russian Federation, which has caused intentional damage to Ukraine’s aviation and the air cargo sector,” it said.
