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Ukrainian Antonov An-124 escapes: Russia stunned!
On July 11, 2025, a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 landed at Leipzig-Halle Airport after undergoing maintenance in Kiev. The article sheds light on the background to the surprising evacuation and the current situation of Russian cargo planes.
Ukrainian Antonov An-124 escapes: Russia stunned!
On July 11, 2025, a remarkable returnee landed at Leipzig-Halle Airport: the Antonov An-124 with registration UR-82073, which had previously been parked in Kiev-Svyatoshyn due to maintenance work. This is reported by the Flight review. The An-124 belongs to Antonov Airlines and has been stationed in the Ukrainian capital since March 2021. Due to the Russian attack on Ukraine, the airspace over the country has been closed to civilian flights since February 24, 2022.
With this landing, none other than the Ukrainian Antonov Airlines has once again secured a strong position in international air transport. With six active An-124s now expanding its fleet, the airline is back on track. When the An-124 took off on July 11, it did so without a transponder signal, leaving it undetected until the Polish-Ukrainian border. The plane was only traceable in Polish airspace. Eyewitnesses reported impressive low-level flights over Kyiv, which even surprised the Russian army. Critics were vocal that Russia missed the opportunity to neutralize the An-124 on the ground or shoot it down after takeoff.
Airports like Leipzig-Halle have established themselves as central contact points for the An-124. The machines are maintained and modernized here. Loud Euractiv The An-124 is not only the largest production cargo aircraft in the world, but also acts as the backbone of international air transport. With a payload of up to 150 tons, it is of crucial importance for NATO and the UN, especially for humanitarian operations and military transport.
However, the Russian aviation situation is completely different. While the Ukrainian An-124s are active again in Leipzig, Russian aircraft such as those from Volga-Dnepr Airlines have to remain on the ground. This airline currently has one of its planes in Canada, which has been stuck there for three years, symbolizing the difficulties facing Russian aviation. Loud NZZ The aircraft was confiscated due to the Russian attack on Ukraine, and the Russian Foreign Ministry protested against the planned handover of the aircraft to Ukraine.
In summary, it can be seen that while Antonov Airlines wants to build on old successes with new technology from Leipzig, Russian aviation is facing major challenges. Air travel has changed drastically as a result of the Ukraine conflict, and the Antonov An-124 remains a symbol of these new times.