Secret plan successful: Antonov unexpectedly lands in Leipzig!

Secret plan successful: Antonov unexpectedly lands in Leipzig!

On July 11, 2025, recently, a surprising flight from Kiev to Leipzig caused a stir. A modernized Antonov aircraft, more precisely the AN-124 model from the Ukrainian airline “Antonow Airlines”, landed successfully in Germany. The machine, which is already almost 70 meters long and has an impressive record of over 21,000 flight hours, has been extensively overhauled in recent years. The aim of the modernization was to replace all Russian components with Western components. This work, which was stalled several times due to the ongoing Russian war of aggression, was finally completed in June 2025.

The plane was filmed by many people as it was taking off from Kyiv. This is despite the fact that Ukrainian airspace has been closed to civilian aircraft since the Russian attack in February 2022. In order to remain undetected, the Antonov plane flew to the Polish border without a transponder signal, which apparently even surprised the Russian army. This then criticized the inadequate monitoring of the airspace over Ukrainian airports. The plane finally landed in Leipzig at 2:38 p.m. local time, where it was ceremoniously welcomed with a water baptism.

A strong sign of independence

The arrival of this aircraft is not only a logistical coup, but also a strong sign of Ukraine's technical independence from Russia. With this landing, the fleet of “Antonow Airlines” increases to six aircraft, which opens up new opportunities for the company on international routes. This further development could make a significant contribution to expanding Ukrainian transport capacities and demonstrating the credibility of air logistics. What is particularly interesting for observers is the fear that the Ukrainian airline could in future be able to transport weapons from all over the world to Rzeszów, Poland - a central transshipment point for weapons imports to Ukraine.

In contrast to this positive development is the sad news of the loss of the Antonov AN-225, which was known as the largest cargo plane in the world and was destroyed during the war. This aircraft was a flagship of Ukrainian aviation and its loss continues to cause great sadness in the country. It turns out that despite all the adverse circumstances, Ukraine is taking innovative steps and the modernization of the aircraft fleet is an important part of this strategy.

The developments surrounding the Antonov AN-124 are certainly more than just quick business. They represent Ukraine's determination to continue despite the challenges and to actively strengthen its own aviation industry.