Kyiv triumphs: Secret AN-124 return provides Russia's anger!

Kyiv triumphs: Secret AN-124 return provides Russia's anger!

Irpin, Ukraine - On July 18, 2025, Ukraine managed to carry out a spectacular coup. A modernized Antonow An- 124-100 was secretly moved from Kiev to Leipzig, which triggered outrage in Moscow. This operation was unnoticed throughout the flight, despite the strict Russian monitoring of Ukrainian airspace. The success of these mission carried out under difficult conditions is evaluated as a sign of the resilience of the Ukrainian aviation industry.

The AN-124 is a large four-engine transport aircraft, which was designed by the Antonov construction office in Ukraine in the 1980s. With a maximum payload of 150 tons, it is the hardest transport aircraft in operation worldwide. This machine, which bears the name "Be Brave Like Irpin", is reminiscent of the brave defense of the city of Irpin, where Ukrainian armed forces were in 2022.

outrage in Moscow

The laying of the Antonow An-124-100, which was re-enhanced after years of work, caused anger for Russian war bloggers and military observers. They expressed angrily about the action and described them as a *failure of the secret service *. Antonov Airlines described the transport as a sign of "stability, professionalism and unity" of the Ukrainian aviation industry.

The return of the aircraft falls into a critical phase in which Russia intensified its attacks with drones and rockets to Ukrainian cities. New victims were recently reported in Kharkiw and Krywyj Rih, which further fueled the situation on site. These circumstances illustrate the importance of the AN-124, which has been used in the past, among other things for NATO strategies and humanitarian missions.

The story of the An-124

Die Antonow An-124 Ruslan, also known as Ur-82073 Ulyanovsk completed. Until 1999 used for the Russian airline Rossiya, it is one of a total of 57 built -up specimens. These planes are capable of transporting extremely heavy and bulky equipment, comparable to the US Lockheed C-5.

The UR-82073 survived several Russian air strikes, including one on March 14, 2022, but its modernization was temporarily interrupted due to the war. It was not until June 2025 that the complete overhaul could be completed and the plane was put back into service. The relocation of the AN-124 was kept secret by the Ukrainian government and Antonov over three years and is regarded as a symbol for the resilience of the Ukrainian aviation industry.

An uncertain view of the future remains, since it is unclear whether Antonov will ever repair the damaged seventh Ann-124, which was lost in Hostomel in 2022. Nevertheless, the successful return of the An-124 keeps hope for a stronger Ukrainian aviation industry.