SUPPLEMENT


was perhaps the most visible symbol of the war’s toll on Ukrainian aviation. The 84m wingspan giant had set numerous records for cargo payload and size, and its loss reverberated worldwide. Ukrainian authorities have vowed to rebuild the Mriya as a symbol of resilience, and plans for a new An-225 have been discussed more on this in a later section. In the words of David Arahamiya, a government representative, occupiers may destroy material things but “‘Мрію’ – ніколи” (“the ‘Dream’ – never”). He revealed that as early as mid-2022, Ukraine was “already working on a project to build a new plane… updated with modern, digital equipment, which will allow the Mriya to become even stronger.” This ambitious project, he noted, was a topic of discussion with


foreign partners such as British entrepreneur Richard Branson, who expressed readiness to assist in rebuilding Antonov’s destroyed base and its flagship plane.


Global logistics disrupted by the conflict The shockwaves of Russia’s invasion rippled far beyond Ukraine’s borders, significantly disrupting global air


logistics routes and


capacity. With Ukraine’s airspace closed and sanctions imposed on Russian aviation, airlines worldwide had to redraw their flight paths almost overnight. Crucially, Russian carriers – which played a major role in international air cargo – were largely side-lined. The largest Russian cargo airline, Volga-Dnepr, and subsidiaries


like AirBridgeCargo, halted operations in March 2022 due to European sanctions. This group had handled nearly half of Russia’s airfreight market and about 4% of global air cargo capacity, especially on Europe-Asia routes. Its grounding abruptly removed a significant chunk of heavy-lift capacity from the international market. For Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines, the war created both challenges


and opportunities on the global stage. On one hand, the damage to Antonov’s fleet and the ongoing conflict limited its operations. On the other hand, the exit of Russian competitors like Volga-Dnepr opened up market share for heavy-lift jobs that only the Antonov Ruslans can perform. Prior to the war, Antonov and Volga-Dnepr often collaborated or competed in transporting outsized cargo: for example, both were contractors in the SALIS strategic airlift programme. With Russian aircraft banned from European and US airspace,


Antonov’s AN-124-100 fleet became even more indispensable for Western aerospace, energy, and defence clients.


Adapting operations amid closed skies With its home base in ruins and Ukrainian airspace unsafe, Antonov Airlines had to quickly adapt to continue its missions. Within weeks of the invasion, the company relocated its remaining flying fleet out of Ukraine. In March 2022, five AN-124 Ruslans were ferried to Leipzig Halle Airport in Germany, which offered a friendly haven for the displaced Ukrainian carrier. Prosvirin affirms that since the move, all necessary logistics


have been arranged to support operations abroad, minimising disruptions: “Since February 2022, aircraft maintenance has been carried out at Leipzig/Halle Airport… all components are delivered in advance, and maintenance work is carried out exactly on time.” All aircraft maintenance is carried out in Leipzig; spare parts


are shipped from Kyiv to Germany. Thanks to this proactive co- ordination, Antonov’s team ensured there have been no delays in carrying out transports. Crucially, Antonov’s decades of experience on international routes


helped it adjust swiftly to the new reality. Before the war, the airline routinely flew worldwide and was accustomed to flexibility. “Many years of experience in the international air transportation


market have allowed us to adapt quite quickly to changing logistical conditions,” notes Prosvirin The AN-124s have been flying from their new German base to destinations across North America, Europe,


for “project cargo” in aerospace and energy as industries rebounded from the pandemic lull. “After


the global businesses pandemic, logistics recovered… and processes were


restructured. Demand for project cargo transportation increased… Global


returned to their usual


production processes,” the company notes. “We prioritise unique project cargoes, which is the basis of our


specialisation,” explains Prosvirin. In practice, that means an Antonov AN-124 might be chartered


to move anything from a giant satellite or a power generator to a whole train locomotive – cargoes that keep global commerce and infrastructure projects going even in turbulent times. By concentrating on this niche and leveraging its unmatched aircraft capabilities, Antonov Airlines has managed to stay relevant and solvent through the crisis. In fact, despite the wartime setbacks, the carrier is on track to restore its revenues to pre-war levels by 2024, according to recent reports.


Prospects for recovery and rebuilding after the war Looking ahead, the full revival of Ukraine’s air cargo market hinges on peace and rebuilding. Restoring infrastructure,


reopening


airspace, and modernising regulations will all be key to a post- war recovery. As Prosvirin emphasises, so much now depends on the war


ending and Ukrainian airspace reopening. Until the skies are safe, Ukraine cannot resume normal cargo flights from its territory. Government officials have not ventured to give timelines for when airports might reopen. In essence, the timing is uncertain and largely tied to the progress of the war. However, planning for the future is well underway.


Ukraine and its aviation companies are actively considering what it will take to rebuild and even upgrade the cargo sector oncethe fight will end . A top priority will be reconstructing damaged airports and facilities. For Antonov, the “desired change” after victory is “reconstruction of the domestic airport in Hostomel construction of logistics hubs.” Reconstructing


Antonov


(Hostomel) Airport into a modern cargo hub could significantly boost Ukraine’s air freight capacity, possibly


even surpassing Likewise, its


pre-war role by incorporating state-of-the-art infrastructure. Kyiv’s


logistics Boryspil Airport –


intact but closed – will need security assurances and perhaps upgrades to regain airlines’ confidence once flights resume. Notably, Antonov’s interim base at Leipzig is only temporary; the company assures that after victory and necessary repairs, Hostomel will once again become the base for its Ruslan fleet. Beyond physical recognition


reconstruction, is that major there investments the Middle East,


Africa, and Asia-Pacific, carrying project cargo for industries like aerospace, oil & gas, heavy engineering, and energy. “We continue to provide logistics for the aerospace, oil and gas,


industrial, and energy sectors,” says Prosvirin. Humanitarian missions have also remained a priority. Even as


a commercial company, Antonov has found ways to deliver relief cargo for Ukraine when needed: “In our pursuit of peace and an end to the war in Ukraine, we always find opportunities to deliver humanitarian cargo in the interests of the Ukrainian government.” Another facet of adaptation has been adjusting to shifts in cargo


demand. The war came on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had already altered global supply chains. Antonov observed that demand for certain cargo categories grew after 2020, notably


5


and international partnerships will be required. Prosvirin points to large infrastructure projects involving international partners – as crucial to reviving the market. This could include foreign funding or joint ventures to rebuild airports, expand fleets, and develop new cargo terminals. Indeed, Despite


current uncertainties, optimism


persists that Ukraine’s air cargo sector will not only recover but emerge stronger. Prosvirin notes that Antonov has used this period to internally strengthen itself:


“We managed


to attract highly qualified specialists who make a significant


contribution to the development and prosperity of Antonov.”


International support and co-operation: A pillar for revival International co-operation is emerging as a pillar of Ukraine’s strategy to rebuild its aviation sector. From providing an operational base in Germany to future reconstruction funding, foreign partners have been and will be indispensable. As Prosvirin acknowledges, the future of Ukraine’s aviation is possible only in broad international partnership. Since 2022, Antonov has felt strong support from global


aviation and logistics partners. This support has taken many forms: European and North American airports accommodating Ukrainian operations, NATO contracting Antonov for defence transport, Western manufacturers assisting with spare parts and maintenance, and international customers sticking with Antonov despite the challenges. The Leipzig airport collaboration is a prime example of a foreign ally stepping up – Germany not only hosts Antonov’s fleet but also benefits, since the Ukrainian freighters contribute to the cargo throughput and economic activity at the hub. Likewise, other airports such as those in Turkey, the UAE, and Canada have remained “highly effective and open to co-operation” in handling Ukrainian cargo charters, according to Antonov’s view. Such openness will be crucial when Ukrainian airports reopen; until then, these global hubs effectively keep Ukraine connected to the world. Looking to the reconstruction phase, Ukraine is


actively engaging international governments organisations


and for


assistance. Prosvirin confirms that such negotiations are ongoing. It is anticipated that a consortium of allies may help finance the rebuilding of airports like Hostomel and possibly invest in a new An-225 Mriya. The creation of an international fund to revive the Mriya has already


been Antonov’s proposed state by enterprise,


signalling that they will seek worldwide contributions to this


high-profile project. Indeed, any attempt to construct a second Mriya, or a comparably large transport, would


likely involve companies from multiple countries supplying parts, technology, and expertise – truly a global endeavour. Prosvirin notes that no concrete joint development talks are underway yet for Mriya, but if the project goes ahead, it can only happen with broad international co-operation.


Rebuilding the “Mriya” No discussion of Ukraine’s cargo aviation future is complete without addressing the fate of the An-225 Mriya, the legendary aircraft whose name means “Dream.” The destroyed Mriya has come to symbolise both the scale of Ukraine’s loss and the heights of its aerospace achievement. Reconstructing this plane would be an emotional and technological triumph,. Antonov Company has already begun preliminary work on the Mriya reconstruction,


focusing on


design and engineering plans. “We continue to carry out documentation work


related to calculations, design and other necessary design processes,” says Prosvirin. However, the actual building of the second


Mriya is deferred until after the war. “Like any airline, we would like to have such


an aircraft in our fleet. But the final plans for reconstruction… we will be able to discuss only after victory,” he noted.


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