The SSU completed the investigation into the destruction of the Mriya plane: the suspects face up to 15 years in prison

Photo: SBU completed the investigation into the destruction of «Mriya». Photo: Getty Images

The Security Service of Ukraine has completed the investigation into the destruction of the An-225 «Mriya» transport aircraft. The indictment against the defendants was referred to the court, they face up to 15 years in prison.

This was reported by the SSU press service.

Law enforcement officers collected evidence regarding former officials of the state enterprise «Antonov»: general director Serhii Bychkov and head of the aviation security unit Oleksandr Netiosov.

The Security Service of Ukraine stated that the actions of the operatives «led to the temporary seizure of a strategically important airfield during the battles for Kyiv and the destruction» of the plane. The investigators completed the pre-trial investigation and sent the indictment to the court.

According to the investigation, on the eve of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the perpetrators prevented National Guard servicemen from entering the territory of the Gostomel airport to prepare for its defense.

«For this, in the period of January-February 2022, the officials ordered to block the admission of the Ukrainian military to the territory of the facility,» the SSU says.

On the basis of the collected evidence, the defendants are charged under Part 2 of Article 27, Part 2 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations).

The accused are in custody.

We will remind you that in the first days of the full-scale war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the Russian invaders destroyed the flagship of the Ukrainian aviation in Gostomel - the An-225 «Mriya» aircraft.

"Antonov» immediately announced that «Mriya» will be rebuilt. However, the cost of such an idea was unclear - estimates from Ukroboronprom and representatives ranged from $120 million to $3 billion. However, as Anatoly Vovnyanko, the designer of Antonov State Enterprise, wrote at the time, in reality, the completion will cost about 250-300 million dollars.

Subsequently, the Security Service reported the suspicion to the former General Director of State Enterprise «Antonov», acting the Deputy General Director, as well as the Deputy Director of Aviation Security in obstructing the legitimate activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which led to the capture of the Gostomel Airfield and the destruction of the AN-225 «Mriya» aircraft.