Antonov in Kosovo: All known for flying a large aircraft

But the reason for flying to Kosovo of one of the world's largest cargo transport planes, including military ones, remains unknown.

Radio Free Europe (REL) has requested information Thursday from Pristina Airport about the arrival of the vast Ukrainian production butterfly, but has received no response.

The flight of the plane with the UR-82008 census did not even figure in commercial online flight records.

The ministry of defence in Kosovo has said there is no official information on this flight.

Renowned Kosovo photographer Arian Mavriqi has photographed and shot yesterday's landing of the giant plane, which has been seen in Kosovo as well.

Local and foreign aviation enthusiasts have also published photos of Antonov's landing videos at an airport located 17km from the Kosovo capital, alluding that the plane was launched from an air base in Germany.

According to them, it may have brought military equipment to the peacekeeping mission of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in Kosovo HINA KFOR.

But from this mission. NATO did not answer REL questions on the matter.

Meanwhile, Germany's Defence Ministry told the REL that, “as principled issues and despite the specific question, it does not comment on military transport”, and that its response does not constitute any confirmation or denial of this flight.

She, however, said German armed forces use the company's transport service Antonov.

“... The chapters of Antonov Logistics SALIS GmbH [used] for sending and supplying German forces into the context of national protection and protection of the alliance, management of international crises, and management of national risks and crises”, a German Defence Ministry spokesman told REL.

What are Antonov aircraft used for?

According to official data, published by the airline company itself, Antonov Airlines is a subsidiary of Antonov Company, headquartered in Kiev, Ukraine.

Ukrainian state-owned company operates a large fleet of aircraft carrying goods, including five An-124-type aircraft Ruslan, who can carry loads of up to 150 tons.

Two of these planes are officially used through Antonov Logistic company. SALIS GmbH, to provide transport services for NATO and the countries of the European Union for sending emergency subx0ms to crisis situations”.

According to company web site information, services responsible for the planning of transport and maintenance of aircraft have moved temporarily to Leipzig, Germany, due to the war in Ukraine.

Previous Flights to Kosovo

The Antonov company's plane did not first come to Kosovo on Wednesday.

Pristina Airport itself had published photographs of this plane when it arrived in Kosovo in 2016.

Meanwhile, the BBKRspotters group, which publishes images of flights to Pristina Airport, had published a video of the plane landing at “Adem Jashari” in January 2024.

Radio Free Europe has requested information from Antonov's own flight company yesterday, but until the moment this text is published, it has not been answered. / REL/