[imagesource: NewsAU]

The aviation world is especially upset with the Russian invasion of Ukraine because of a particular event that occurred on Friday surrounding the world’s largest plane.

The Antonov AN-225, named “Mriya” (“dream” in Ukrainian), has been destroyed by a Russian attack on Antonov Airport in Hostomel.

The plane was sitting at the airfield near Kyiv when it was attacked by “Russian occupants,” according to Ukrainian authorities.

Satellite images show significant damage to part of the hangar in which the AN-225 was stored:

Image: Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies

CNN has more:

Meanwhile, NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System detected multiple fires at the airport, including at the hangar where the plane is kept. The fire at the hangar was detected at 11:13 a.m. on Sunday, according to the NASA data, which is obtained from a number of NOAA and NASA satellites.

It is not clear if these fires at the airport are the result of actual fires or explosions from military strikes.

The iconic plane will now need to be rebuilt, which will cost upwards of $3 billion according to Ukrainian state defence company Ukroboronprom.

It stated that Russia should be the ones to pay:

“The restoration is estimated to take over 3 billion USD and over five years,” the statement said.

“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.”

The massive six-engined Mriya, with the largest wingspan of any operational aeroplane, has been in service for 30 years, dating back to the days of the Soviet Union:

RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service @radiosvoboda was granted exclusive access to film on board a flight of the world’s biggest plane — the #Antonov An-225 #Mriya cargo plane. The plane was built in the 1980s to carry the #Soviet space shuttle, the #Buran. pic.twitter.com/SosIrUATgW

— Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (@RFERL) December 4, 2018

Its service didn’t end in the USSR, however:

The AN-225 was sometimes drafted in to help airlift aid during crises in other countries. In the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake it delivered relief supplies to the neighboring Dominican Republic. During the early days of the Covid pandemic it was used to transport medical supplies to affected areas.

Although many are lamenting the attack on Mriya, it has not thwarted the hope that many Ukrainians feel despite Putin’s onslaught:

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

That’s the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, by the way.

[source:cnn]