Summary and Key Points: In the early days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world's largest aircraft, was destroyed during a failed Russian raid on the Antonov Airport near Kyiv.

-The An-225, a symbol of Ukrainian and Soviet pride, was unable to escape due to maintenance, leaving it vulnerable during the Battle of Antonov Airport. Originally built to transport the Soviet Buran space orbiter, the An-225 was renowned for its immense cargo capacity and humanitarian missions.

-Ukraine has vowed to rebuild the iconic aircraft, though the effort could cost up to $3 billion.

Antonov An-225 Mriya: The World's Largest Aircraft Was Destroyed in Failed Russian Raid

In the early stages of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin mounted an attack on the Antonov Airport in Hostomel, outside the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. The plan called for Russian paratroopers supported by helicopter gunships to seize the cargo airport, and its 11,483 foot (3,500 meter) runway that was capable of supporting the largest transport aircraft.

Things didn't go as planned, and the Battle of the Antonov Airport was one of Russia's first defeats during its "special military operation" – earning it comparisons to the failed Operation Market Garden that occurred 80 years ago next month during the Second World War.

Lost in the fighting that ensued for control of the airport was the world's largest plane, the Antonov An-225. The massive aircraft, named "Mriya" or "dream" in Ukrainian, had been parked at Hostomel Airport near Kyiv when it came under attack by Russian forces as they tried to take control of the facility.

According to a statement issued by Ukrainian defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom soon after the battle, the An-225 was unable to take off that day because one of its engines had been dismantled for repairs.

"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!," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba posted to Twitter (now X.com).

Large Transport Indeed

With more than two-and-a-half years of hindsight, a question still remains why Russia didn't try to capture the plane, as it had been a symbol of pride for the Soviet Union as much as for Ukraine.

The An-225 Mriya was a strategic airlift cargo aircraft developed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) during the 1980s. Boasting a wingspan of 290 feet and a weight of 285 tons, the Mriya was widely acknowledged as the heaviest aircraft ever built.

The AN-225 was originally built to carry the Soviet Union Buran space orbiter, but its extreme size meant it also had an extremely large storage capacity of 950 cubic meters. It was large enough to carry 50 cars or five main battle tanks (MBT) – but it was largely used to transport energy production systems, electric generators and fuel for nuclear power stations. 

It could carry twice as much as a Boeing 747 freighter, but its size required that it was powered by six engines that each produced 51,590 pounds of thrust. Despite its massive size, it was hardly an aircraft that boasted much in the way of creature comforts – and the crew had to access the cockpit via a ladder.

The Mriya could carry a massive payload, yet, it only made around 10 flights annually.

The AN-225 was often employed to help airlift aid during crises around the globe, CNN reported following its destruction. In the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Mriya delivered relief supplies to the neighboring Dominican Republic; and during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic the massive plane was used to transport medical supplies to affected areas.

However, the massive transport aircraft garnered an equally substantial following among aviation enthusiasts, and regularly drew crowds wherever it went. Its loss was seen as a significant blow to Ukraine's defense industry as well as the nation's aerospace infrastructure, which had received significant investment in 2021 with the aim of providing Ukrainian forces with high-tech, locally sourced equipment.

Only one AN-225 was completed, although a second was planned – with the effort finally ended in 2009. Kyiv has said it will rebuild the Mriya, which aviation experts suggest could cost as much as $3 billion.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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