The Ukrainian-designed Antonov-225 Mriya / Photo from Ukroboronprom
Zelensky says the flight will be registered as a Guinness World Record.
The world's biggest and most powerful transport aircraft, Ukrainian-designed Antonov-225 Mriya, has brought the largest cargo shipment by volume from China to Ukraine: 12 million face masks, 260,000 protective glasses, and 100,000 medical gowns.
The arrival of the aircraft at the Hostomel airfield outside Kyiv on April 23 was welcomed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov, representatives of the government and the Office of the President, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
"Today, we're welcoming our Mriya, this is a large batch, one of the largest batches in recent weeks," the president told journalists when the plane landed. "Our Mriya has brought 12 million masks to Ukraine – both for hospitals and pharmacies. It also brought about 260,000 protective glasses for our doctors and over 100,000 level 5 gowns."
Zelensky thanked the crew of the aircraft.
"We have really achieved a record by volume of cargo that will be registered in the Guinness Book of Records," he stressed.
In total, the aircraft brought 103 tonnes of medical freight.
In turn, the head of state-run Antonov Enterprise, Oleksandr Donets, said the An-225 Mriya would carry out another flight at the request of Ukraine and deliver medical cargo the following week.