Ukraine’s Antonov-225 (Mriya) cargo plane, which happens to be the world’s largest aircraft, was destroyed during an airstrike attack near Kyiv on the fourth day of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s state-owned Ukroboronprom group said. ayokinews.com reports
“Russian invaders destroyed the flagship of the Ukrainian aviation, the AN-225” during an attack on the Antonov airport in Gostomel near Kyiv, the group said in a statement.
The AN-225 was one-of-a-kind in the world, measuring 84 meters (276 feet) in length and capable of transporting up to 250 tonnes (551,000 pounds) of cargo at a top speed of 850 kilometers per hour (528 mph).
It was given the name “Mriya,” which translates to “dream” in Ukraine.
“This was the world’s largest aircraft, AN-225 ‘Mriya’” Ukraine’ Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted Sunday.
“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!”, Dmytro added.
Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion, which was initiated by President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, violent fighting have occurred at Gostomel airport.
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According to the Russian army, it is attempting to take critical infrastructure.
Ukroboronprom, a weapons manufacturer, predicted that rebuilding the “Mriya” would cost more than $3 billion (2.7 billion euros) and take more than five years.
“Our mission is to ensure that these expenses are covered by Russia, which deliberately inflicted damage on Ukraine’s aviation,” the group said.
The AN-225 was produced as part of the Soviet aviation program and flew for the first time in 1988.
After years of not flying since the Soviet Union’s demise, the lone surviving replica performed a test flight in Gostomel, some 20 kilometers from Kyiv, in 2001.
It was used for freight flights by Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines and was in great demand at the commencement of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source (Credit): AFP
