History. Only one AN-225 was ever built to completion. It was designed and built throughout the 1980s and took its maiden flight on 21st December 1988.

Currently, there are zero fully operational Antonov An-225 Mriya aircraft in the world. Only one was ever completed, and it was tragically destroyed in February 2022 during the battle for Hostomel Airport near Kyiv. A second airframe was partially constructed in the late 1980s but was never finished; it remains in storage in a hangar, roughly 70% complete. While there have been ongoing discussions and high-level announcements about rebuilding the "Dream" (Mriya) using parts from the destroyed original and the unfinished second fuselage, the project is estimated to cost over $500 million and is currently on hold due to the ongoing conflict. For decades, the An-225 was the world's heaviest and largest wingspan aircraft in operational service, uniquely capable of carrying oversized cargo that no other plane could fit, such as entire train locomotives or massive power plant generators. Its loss is considered a significant blow to the global aviation community and Ukrainian national pride.