Zelensky acknowledged the loss of the An-225 “Mriya” at the Gostomel airfield

The President of Ukraine announced the loss of the aircraft. Ukroboronprom clarified that the plane was in Gostomel for repairs and could not fly on February 24 due to the dismantled engine

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced the loss of the An-225 Mriya transport aircraft due to a fire. He stated this in a video message published on Telegram, while beating the meaning of the word “Mriya”, which is translated from Ukrainian as “dream”.

“Yesterday, unfortunately, we lost our Mriya. But the old Mriya, and we are now building a new one, ”he said in a video message published on his Telegram channel.

“Mriya” was the largest aircraft in the world at the time of its creation and the only one assembled to full readiness.

The Ukrainian military-industrial concern Ukroboronprom also acknowledged the loss of the aircraft, as stated in the message on the concern’s website.

“As of the morning of February 24, the aircraft was undergoing repair and maintenance work at the Antonov Company site (aircraft manufacturer An. — RBC) in Gostomel. One of the engines <...> was removed for repairs, and the plane could not fly that day, although the appropriate commands were given, ”the report says.