Antonov An-124 Becomes First Civilian Plane Over Kyiv in 40 Months

A Ukrainian-owned Antonov An-124 “Ruslan” cargo aircraft overflew Kyiv on 11 July, marking the first recorded civilian flight above the capital since Russia’s full-scale invasion shut the country’s airspace more than three years ago. The hulking transport plane, operated by Antonov Airlines, was observed heading west, with flight trackers indicating a likely route toward Poland. Ukraine has kept its airspace closed to commercial traffic since February 2022, forcing the aviation industry to relocate operations abroad and rely on ground or drone logistics. While Ukrainian authorities have not announced a formal reopening of the skies, the daytime transit of the An-124 underscores incremental efforts to reposition strategic aircraft and could signal preparations for future limited humanitarian or logistical corridors.