Antonov AN-26 visiting Rotterdam Airport

Rotterdam, 7 March 2025 – A very rare sight in the Dutch skies: a Ukrainian military aircraft! These aircraft seldom visit the Netherlands, making this occasion particularly special.

On this day, an aging yet still active aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force made a brief but notable visit to Rotterdam Airport. The aircraft, a veteran of the fleet, was tasked with transporting a Ukrainian diplomatic delegation.

This Ukrainian diplomatic delegation visited The Hague. They presented evidence of Russia’s use of banned chemical weapons at a meeting of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Executive Council.
The delegation, led by Andrii Kasiianov, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ International Security Department, highlighted Russia’s deployment of chemical-laced munitions over 6,900 times between February 2023 and February 2025, resulting in over 2,100 Ukrainian soldiers seeking medical treatment for chemical exposure, with at least three confirmed fatalities.
Additionally, on 5 March 2025, a roundtable discussion on military support for Ukraine took place in the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The journey on this day began at Brussels Airport, from where the aircraft departed just after lunch time, touching down in Rotterdam for a short afternoon stop. After completing its mission, the aircraft continued its journey, departing directly for Copenhagen, Denmark, later in the day.

This rare visit highlights the ongoing cooperation between Ukraine and its international allies, as well as the crucial role military transport aircraft play in diplomatic and strategic operations.