Antonov An-124 stuck in Kyiv since 2022 successfully exited Ukraine

On July 11, 2025, an Antonov An-124-100 cargo plane conducted a significant flight over Kyiv, which is noteworthy as it was the first of its kind over the capital since Ukrainian airspace was closed in February 2022 due to the ongoing conflict. The flight, identified as ADB9154, was tracked as it operated through restricted airspace and successfully evacuated the aircraft (registration UR-82073) that had been stranded in Kyiv since the airspace closure. After its flight over Poland, the An-124 landed safely at Leipzig Airport in Germany. Since February 24, 2022, civilian air traffic has largely been suspended, with exceptions only for military, state, and specially authorized humanitarian operations. A similar situation occurred in September 2022 when a Wizzair crew was able to evacuate an A320 from Ukraine.

From an expert perspective in the transportation industry, the successful operation of the An-124 under such challenging conditions demonstrates the resilience and strategic planning inherent in aviation logistics, especially in conflict zones. It highlights the importance of multi-modal transport capabilities and the need for robust contingency plans to ensure the movement of essential cargo and resources, even amidst significant operational restrictions. This event could pave the way for more conversations regarding the eventual reopening of airspace and the potential for resuming civilian flights in a post-conflict environment.