The world’s largest aircraft, the Antonov An-225, nicknamed ‘Mriya’ (Dream in Ukrainian), was destroyed in the battle of Antonov Airport during the ongoing Russian onslaught on Ukraine, the Ukrainian government said on Sunday.

AN-225 'Mriya' - meaning 'Dream' in Ukrainian - was manufactured by Ukrainian aeronautics company Antonov, and qualified as the world's largest cargo aircraft.

Kyiv: Russian forces have destroyed Ukraine`s flagman aircraft An-225 Mriya, the world`s biggest cargo plane, Ukraine`s state defence conglomerate Ukroboronprom said on Telegram. The aircraft was destroyed in an attack by Russian troops on the Hostomel airport outside Kyiv, Ukroboronprom added on Sunday. The restoration of the plane will cost more than USD 3 billion and will take a long time, it said.

According to the director of Antonov Airlines, one of the engines was dismantled for repairs and the plane wasn’t able to take off that day, although the appropriate commands were given.

Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs also tweeted, “Russia may have destroyed our ‘Mriya’. But they will never be able to destroy our dream of a strong, free and democratic European state”.