Babak Taghvee provides analysis on the Battle of Antonov Airport, which resulted in the loss of one of the most iconic aircraft to ever grace the skies, the Antonov An-225 Mriya
On the morning of February 27, 2022, an artillery shell fell on a hangar within the confines of Hostomel Airport to the northeast of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. The airport is often referred to as Antonov Airport, as it is home to the headquarters of the nation’s world-renowned freight carrier, Antonov Airlines.
Proudly displaying the colours of Ukraine, the sole Antonov An-225 Mriya flies low over Hostomel following a test flight on March 19, 2018
AirTeamImages-Oleg Belyakov
Piercing through the roof of the hangar, the shell hit the aeroplane parked under it, setting it on fire. With the machine soon ablaze, a Ukrainian Army surveillance drone captured the aftermath. Soon published on social media, it revealed what many had feared following reports Hostomel was under attack: it was the sole Antonov An-225 Mriya, UR-82060.
