An Antonov An-225 Mriya cargo plane, the world's biggest aircraft, destroyed by Russian troops as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, is seen at an airfield in the settlement of Hostomel, in Kyiv..
The Ukrainian-made "Mriya", which is Ukrainian for "dream", weighs some 705 tonnes and has a wingspan of 290 feet.
It was destroyed as Russian forces fought to seize the airport in late February, 2022, in a major symbolic blow to Ukraine as it sought to prevent Kyiv falling. The Russian military held the area for several weeks before Ukrainian armed forces claimed it back.
"We are conducting a fair investigation of this case. Those who ... helped the enemy destroy one of Ukraine's symbols should receive an appropriate punishment," Vasyl Malyuk, head of the SBU security service said in a statement.
The cargo plane was originally built in the late 1980s to transport a Soviet space shuttle.
"Our state will definitely build a new plane, because the Dream, like Ukraine, cannot be destroyed," Malyuk said.
Facts about mriya :
The Antonov An-225 Mriya, a strategic airlift cargo aircraft. It was the world's largest and heaviest airplane. Some key details about the An-225 include:
It was designed and built by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union.
The An-225's purpose was to transport the Buran spacecraft and other oversized cargo.
It first flew on December 21, 1988.
Only one An-225 was ever fully built.
It was destroyed in February 2022 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
It had six turbofan engines.
The maximum takeoff weight was 640,000 kg.
It could carry up to 250 tonnes of cargo.
The cargo hold was 43.35 meters long.
It held 242 world records.
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