The world's largest airplane was destroyed by Russia — and Ukraine estimates it will cost $500 million to rebuild. Take a look at what's left of the mammoth jet.

Taylor RainsJan 12, 2024, 19:28 IST

The Antonov An-225 "Mriya"as it looked on Aug. 10 of this year.Igor Lesiv/aerovokzal.net

The world's largest airplane was destroyed after Russia invaded Ukraine's Hostomel Airport in 2022.
Photos show the Antonov An-225 "Mriya" being dismantled, with a few engines being salvaged.

After Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the world's largest airplane — and the only one of its kind — was destroyed.

Taking its first flight in December 1988, the An-225 "Myira," meaning "dream" in Ukrainian, was built during Soviet rule by the Kyiv-based Antonov Company for the purpose of carrying the USSR's Buran spacecraft — just as the Boeing 747 did in US with NASA's Space Shuttle.

A second Myria was also ordered, but on-and-off construction after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the jet about 70% complete as of 2009 — it's still not finished.

The sole Myria made its world debut at the Paris Air Show in 1989 by flying in with the Buran orbiter on its back. But the USSR's fall meant the Myria's time with the Soviet space program was short-lived.

The legendary plane ran a few missions in the early 1990s, but mostly sat idle in Ukraine before eventually being revived as a commercial freighter in 2001.

The An-225 would live as Antonov Airlines' loyal workhorse for the next 21 years before its abrupt end 19 months ago during the battle of Ukraine's Hostomel Airport — an event that saw the pride of the nation destroyed by Russian forces.

With talks to rebuild the beloved An-225 — a feat Antonov estimated in November to cost about $502 million — new photos taken by Ukrainian photographer and journalist Igor Lesiv of AeroVokzal.net and shared with Insider show its dismantling.

Take a look at what the An-225 looked like before and after the attack at Hostomel.

The colossal An-225 was equipped with six Ukrainian-made Ivchenko Progress D-18T engines, two tail fins that towered six stories high, and a giant nose-loading door.

The An-225 before its destruction.Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The nose-door complemented the jet's incredible capacity, which was twice that of the 747.

Inside the An-225 cargo hold.Ronny Hartmann / AFP) (Photo by RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images

The Myria's oversized capacity made it particularly favorable for carrying awkward-sized objects, like wind turbines, 50 cars, an even a military tank.

The An-225 loading a 348,000-pound generator in 2009.Antonov Company

Holding the weight of the mammoth plane were a total of 32 wheels — 28 in the main gear as seven rows of four, and four under the nose.

The An-225's wheels, which were a sight to see in and of themselves.ACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

If you're trying to imagine the scale of this behemoth bird, from tail to nose and wingtip to wingtip, it stretched about the size of a football field.

Stringer/Reuters

Antonov initially hoped to fly the An-225 into the 2030s, boasting the slogan "no other name carries more weight," but photos soon emerged after Russia's attack showing the sad reality.

The damaged Antonov An-225 Mriya on April 2, 2022.Vadim Ghirda/AP Photos

Antonov initially hoped to fly the An-225 into the 2030s, boasting the slogan "no other name carries more weight," but photos soon emerged after Russia's attack showing the sad reality.

Initial photos show the plane crushed, with its nose slammed on the ground and both wings hanging in defeat.

The damaged Antonov An-225 Mriya on April 2, 2022.Vadim Ghirda/AP Photos

Everything, from the wings and tail to the hydraulics and fuel pumps, was destroyed.

Dismantling of the An-225 continues at Hostomel airfield near Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 1, 2023.Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto via Getty Images

According to the New York Times, the salvage operation started in March 2023, and pictures from April show the debris removed and the area somewhat cleaned up.

Wreckage of the An-225 in April 2023.Volodymyr Tarasov / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Now, more than 18 months after the attack, fresh images capture the progress that Ukraine has since made on the An-225 as it continues to salvage what it can of the jet.

The Antonov An-225 "Mriya"as it looked on Aug. 10 of this year.Igor Lesiv/aerovokzal.net

Now, more than 18 months after the attack, fresh images capture the progress that Ukraine has since made on the An-225 as it continues to salvage what it can of the jet.

The twin tail fins, engines, several tires, and the wings have since been removed from the plane, leaving behind just the giant frame of the Myria.

The An-225 as it looked on Aug. 10.Igor Lesiv/aerovokzal.net

Meanwhile, the cockpit is also gone, and the jet is now surrounded by scaffolding equipment.

The An-225 as it looked on Aug. 10.Igor Lesiv/aerovokzal.net

Other photos show the engine-less wings and a few wrecked powerplants sitting adjacent to the An-225, among other parts.

The An-225 as it looked on Aug. 10.Igor Lesiv/aerovokzal.net

However, Lesiv told Insider that some parts could be saved — particularly the engines.

The An-225 as it looked on Aug. 10Igor Lesiv/aerovokzal.net

These photos show a stark change from the spring of 2022 when the An-225's wings were barely hanging on with burnt and broken engines still attached.

Major components have been removed as the aircraft is salvaged for parts.Vadim Ghirda/AP Photos, Igor Lesiv/aerovokzal.net

Despite the destruction, both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Antonov say they are committed to rebuilding the legendary Myria — something the incomplete An-225 may be able to help with.

A picture taken on September 7, 2016 shows a second model of the An-225 cargo plane (background) at the Antonov aircraft plant in Kyiv.Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images

Despite the destruction, both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Antonov say they are committed to rebuilding the legendary Myria — something the incomplete An-225 may be able to help with.

Antonov estimated the cost of repair to be around 500 million euros ($502 million) — but, it will have to wait until the war is over, the Times reported.

A view from the underside of what appears to be the separated wing of the ruined Mriya-225 at Hostomel airport in Kyiv, Ukraine, on August 10 2023Vasily Koba

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The world's largest airplane was destroyed by Russia &mdash; and Ukraine estimates it will cost $500 million to rebuild. Take a look at what's left of the mammoth jet.

The colossal An-225 was equipped with six Ukrainian-made Ivchenko Progress D-18T engines, two tail fins that towered six stories high, and a giant nose-loading door.

The nose-door complemented the jet's incredible capacity, which was twice that of the 747.

The Myria's oversized capacity made it particularly favorable for carrying awkward-sized objects, like wind turbines, 50 cars, an even a military tank.

Holding the weight of the mammoth plane were a total of 32 wheels — 28 in the main gear as seven rows of four, and four under the nose.

If you're trying to imagine the scale of this behemoth bird, from tail to nose and wingtip to wingtip, it stretched about the size of a football field.

Antonov initially hoped to fly the An-225 into the 2030s, boasting the slogan "no other name carries more weight," but photos soon emerged after Russia's attack showing the sad reality.

Initial photos show the plane crushed, with its nose slammed on the ground and both wings hanging in defeat.

Everything, from the wings and tail to the hydraulics and fuel pumps, was destroyed.

According to the New York Times, the salvage operation started in March 2023, and pictures from April show the debris removed and the area somewhat cleaned up.

Now, more than 18 months after the attack, fresh images capture the progress that Ukraine has since made on the An-225 as it continues to salvage what it can of the jet.

The twin tail fins, engines, several tires, and the wings have since been removed from the plane, leaving behind just the giant frame of the Myria.

Meanwhile, the cockpit is also gone, and the jet is now surrounded by scaffolding equipment.

Other photos show the engine-less wings and a few wrecked powerplants sitting adjacent to the An-225, among other parts.

However, Lesiv told Insider that some parts could be saved — particularly the engines.

These photos show a stark change from the spring of 2022 when the An-225's wings were barely hanging on with burnt and broken engines still attached.

Despite the destruction, both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Antonov say they are committed to rebuilding the legendary Myria — something the incomplete An-225 may be able to help with.

Antonov estimated the cost of repair to be around 500 million euros ($502 million) — but, it will have to wait until the war is over, the Times reported.

The world's largest airplane was destroyed by Russia — and Ukraine estimates it will cost $500 million to rebuild. Take a look at what's left of the mammoth jet.