SBU charges former head of Antonov over destruction of An-225 in Hostomel
Sergiy Bychkov (Photo:Insider UA/Telegram)
Ukraine’s SBU security service has charged former General Director of Ukrainian state-owned aerospace company Antonov, Serhiy Bychkov, for neglecting to take necessary precautions to prevent Russian forces from destroying An-225 Mriya aircraft, Ukrainian news outlets Liga and InsiderUA reported on March 9
According to the reports, Bychkov and some of his former subordinates are accused of preventing Ukraine’s National Guard from properly organizing the defense of Hostomel airport prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Besides Bychkov, SBU has detained head of Antonov security and several other employees of the company.
“SBU has evidence of former Antonov management barring the National Guard from entering the premises of Hostomel airport and building fortifications (there); they now face up to 15 years in prison,” InsiderUA writes.
On Feb. 27, 2022, during an attack on the Hostomel airport near Kyiv, invading Russian forces destroyed An-225 Mriya – the world's largest heavy-lifting airplane, which was designed and built by Ukraine’s Antonov Design Bureau.
In November 2022, Antonov announced plans to build a second An-225 aircraft, which is already 30% done, according to the bureau.
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