POSTCARD N.130 - UKRAINE

Postcard sent on the 28th December 2023; received on the 30th January 2024

Postcard image: Antonov AN-225 MRIYA - City of Heroes. Hostomel
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The largest cargo aircraft in the world, originally conceived to  piggiback carry the Buran space shuttle in the 80s of last century and then reconverted as a cargo aircraft capable of transporting gigantic packages, such as wind turbine blades or train locomotives.

Further to its enormous size - a 88,4 m wingspan and a total length of 84 m - its unique six engine configuration made it an absolutely unmistakable sight, wherever it went, always drawing on the attention of aircraft spotters all across the world, eager to include its picture in their collection. 

First flown in 1988, the one of a kind, mastodontic, Antonov AN-225 MRYA (Dream) would be destroyed by the Russian agressors in the early days of the invasion of Ukraine, in its usual base, the Antonov Airport, in Hostomel.

Ukraine authorities have vowed to rebuild the "Dream", but more pressing priorities are still ahead, so it is not clear when such an iconic aircraft will again cruse the skies

While visiting Ukraine just before the year's end, the Phantom sent me this postcard illustrated with quite eloquent before and after images of  the AN-225. Thanks a lot, Alex!

The 4 stamps on the back of the postcard are the single stamp issue of 26JUL2023 dedicated o the Ukrainian Security Services, illustrated with a soldier and what looks like a MI-17 helicopter.

The tariff T stamp on the face of the postcard is part of the definitive series with coats of arms of Ukrainian cities - Komarno, in this case - and was issued on 01DEC2021.

The postmark indicates that the postcard was sent from Nerubayske, Odessa.