Footage appears to show the world's largest plane, the Antonov AN-225 Mriya, after it was destroyed by Russian troops as they swept into Ukraine.

The iconic cargo jet was stored at Hostomel Airport in the Kyiv Oblast, where fierce fighting broke out when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale assault on Ukraine on February 24. Russian forces said they had taken over the airfield.

Video believed to be taken on February 26 a day after the Russians claimed the airport shows black smoke rising from the open-air hangar in which the massive aircraft was parked. The yellow and blue livery of the jet's nose appears to be visible in the video.

The Antonov An-225 in the Kyiv Oblast is registered as UR-82060. It reportedly first flew on December 21, 1988, but is seldom flown due to its size. It is 84 metres in length, with a wingspan of around 88 metres.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine’s Donbas region. He said in a public address on Thursday: ‘We decided to launch a special military action aimed at demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.’

State-run Ukrainian aerospace company Ukroboronprom said in a statement: 'Russian occupiers destroyed the flagship of Ukrainian aviation — the legendary An-225 'Mriya.' This happened at the Antonov airfield in Gostomel near Kyiv, where the plane was. It will cost over $3-billion USD to restore the plane, the restoration shall be time-consuming.'

It added that Ukraine will 'make every effort' to ensure Russia shoulders the repair expenses.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine’s Donbas region last week. He said in a public address on February 24: ‘We decided to launch a special military action aimed at demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.’

Russian and Ukrainian officials began ceasefire talks on March 1 in the Republic of Belarus, a staunch Russian ally.

Footage appears to show the world's largest plane, the Antonov AN-225 Mriya, after it was destroyed by Russian troops as they swept into Ukraine.

The iconic cargo jet was stored at Hostomel Airport in the Kyiv Oblast, where fierce fighting broke out when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale assault on Ukraine on February 24. Russian forces said they had taken over the airfield.

Video believed to be taken on February 26 a day after the Russians claimed the airport shows black smoke rising from the open-air hangar in which the massive aircraft was parked. The yellow and blue livery of the jet's nose appears to be visible in the video.

The Antonov An-225 in the Kyiv Oblast is registered as UR-82060. It reportedly first flew on December 21, 1988, but is seldom flown due to its size. It is 84 metres in length, with a wingspan of around 88 metres.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine’s Donbas region. He said in a public address on Thursday: ‘We decided to launch a special military action aimed at demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.’

State-run Ukrainian aerospace company Ukroboronprom said in a statement: 'Russian occupiers destroyed the flagship of Ukrainian aviation — the legendary An-225 'Mriya.' This happened at the Antonov airfield in Gostomel near Kyiv, where the plane was. It will cost over $3-billion USD to restore the plane, the restoration shall be time-consuming.'

It added that Ukraine will 'make every effort' to ensure Russia shoulders the repair expenses.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine’s Donbas region last week. He said in a public address on February 24: ‘We decided to launch a special military action aimed at demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.’

Russian and Ukrainian officials began ceasefire talks on March 1 in the Republic of Belarus, a staunch Russian ally.