An-124 ‘Ruslan’ Flies Over Kyiv for First Time Since 2022, Lands in Leipzig

On July 11, 2025, an Antonov An-124-100 “Ruslan” cargo aircraft operated by Ukrainian airline Antonov Airlines flew over Kyiv and later landed at Leipzig Airport (LEJ) in Germany.

The flight was reported by AeroTime.

The aircraft, registered UR-82073, was seen over Kyiv despite Ukrainian airspace remaining closed to civilian aviation since February 24, 2022, due to the ongoing war. Only military, government, and special humanitarian flights are permitted under strict control.

Unlike other Antonov aircraft damaged during the Battle of Hostomel, UR-82073 was undergoing maintenance at the time of the Russian invasion and was not at the airfield. More details about the battle are available in interview with Ukraine’s Omega special forces unit’s member.

After the attack on Hostomel, Antonov Airlines relocated its operations hub to Leipzig. Its fleet of five active An-124-100s is now based at the German airport.

From its new base, the state-owned airline continues to support both Ukraine’s armed forces and commercial oversized cargo transport.

Although Antonov Airlines has not made an official statement, the landing of UR-82073 in Leipzig suggests the aircraft has rejoined the airline’s active fleet.

Julian Röpcke, senior editor at BILD, described the flight as “a strong sign of resistance to Putin’s fantasies about the destruction of Ukraine.”

“Today, the first civilian aircraft in 40 months was filmed over Kyiv. This is a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 transport aircraft,” Röpcke wrote on X.

In addition to UR-82073, Antonov Airlines may soon be reinforced with an An-124 from Russian airline Volga-Dnepr.

The aircraft has remained in Canada since 2022 after being grounded at Toronto airport shortly following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

In May 2025, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Olga Stefanishyna announced that Canada had begun proceedings to confiscate the aircraft for transfer to Ukraine.