Russian troops destroy world’s biggest cargo plane in Ukraine

The world’s biggest cargo plane, Antonov-225 Mriya, has been hit by Russian troops on an airfield near Kyiv, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said.

The plane, dubbed “Mriya”, which is Ukrainian for “the dream”, was burnt during Russian shelling at Antonov airfield in Hostomel, near Kyiv, where it had been undergoing maintenance.

“Russia may have destroyed our Mriya. But they will never be able to destroy our dream of a strong, free and democratic European state,” Mr Kuleba stated.

Aircraft manufacturer, Antonov Company, said: “Until the An-225 is reviewed by experts, we cannot report the technical condition.”

Russia has not publicly confirmed the attack, but heavy fighting was witnessed at Hostomel airfield, north-west of the capital, last week.

Aerial images also show what appears to be significant air-strike damage and grassfires near the Antonov Airport.

The plane became well known due to its size, and even visited Australia in 2016.

Designed in the 1980s, it is the longest and heaviest aircraft ever built. It also boasts the largest wingspan of any aircraft in operational service.

Ukroboronprom said its restoration was estimated to take more than $US3 billion ($4.17 billion) and five years to complete.

“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 in a statement.

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