In 1988, a dream was born in Ukraine. No, not ghostly and distant, but real, powerful, and winged. It was an AN-225 ‘Mriia’ (‘Dream’) plane.

Its development began in 1985. In three years, the ‘Mriia’ made its first flight from the factory airfield in the Sviatoshyn area in Kyiv.

The ‘Dream’ was created to transport objects of the space industry. One more important feature of the aircraft was its ability to carry heavy and oversized cargo inside and on the external suspension.

In March 1989, the ‘Mriia’ set 110 world records for speed, altitude, and load capacity. In 2004, the International Aeronautical Federation added the AN-225 to the Guinness Book of Records for its 240 records, which became a unique case in aviation.

For the last 20 years, the aircraft has transported large humanitarian cargoes to places affected by natural disasters: earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes.

Since July 2003, the AN-225 with the AN-124 aircraft has transported more than 800 tons of equipment for humanitarian missions in Iraq. Engaged by the US government, ‘Mriia’ also transported military supplies to the Middle East to support the coalition forces.

In 2019, the ‘Mriia’ was supposed to represent Ukraine at the 58th Venice Biennale flying over Venice and casting a shadow over the city. Unfortunately, this idea was impossible to implement due to a ban on flights over the ancient city.

On February 27, 2022, the gorgeous flight of the ‘Mriia’ throughout the years was interrupted by an air attack by the Russian troops on the Hostomel airport (Kyiv region). This place was a strategic bridgehead, which the occupiers were trying to seize for further advance to Kyiv. Thus, the world’s largest and most powerful transport aircraft was destroyed. ‘Mriia’ aircraft has become a world symbol of peace, mutual assistance, and strong support that countries around the world have given each other.

Whatever stored the memories has now become a memory itself.