Newly-released pictures show the true extent of the damage done to the world’s largest plane after Russia’s attack on Ukraine back in February.
During the first week of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian troops destroyed the Antonov-225 Mriya, the world’s largest plane, during an attack on Hostomel airport near the country’s capital.
As seen in the freshly-obtained photos, large parts of the six-engine plane, which weighed 314 tons, were completely obliterated during shelling. Other parts were burned beyond recognition and repair.
“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!” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba previously said.
Following the plane’s destruction, Ukroboronprom, Ukraine’s state arms manufacturer, disclosed how it is estimated that the repair of the plane will cost as much as $3 billion.
The giant aircraft, which has a length of 275 feet and a wingspan of 288 feet, was designed and built by Antonov Corporation in Ukraine back in the 1980s when the country was still part of the former Soviet Union.
“The Russians destroyed An-225 ‘Dream’, it will be restored at the expense of the occupant,” Ukroboronprom General Director Yuri Gusev vowed.
“This happened at Antonov Airport in Gostomel near Kiev, where the plane was. Its restoration will cost more than $3billion and will take a long time.
“Ukraine will put all its efforts to make these work paid by the state-aggressor. The invaders destroyed the plane but they can’t destroy our common dream. She will surely be reborn.”
Gusev added: “Our task is to make these costs covered by the Russian Federation, which caused deliberate damage to Ukrainian aviation and freight aviation sector.
“Russia destroyed our ‘Dream’, but the dream of free from occupant Ukraine is impossible to destroy. We will fight for our land and our home to a victorious end.”
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