Authorities in Ukraine have made a remarkable discovery, unearthing the remains of eight British Hurricane fighter planes from the Second World War. These historic aircraft were found in a forest located south of Kyiv, alongside an unexploded bomb dating back to the same conflict.
The Hurricanes, which played a crucial role in the Battle of Britain by shooting down over half of all German aircraft, were sent to the Soviet Union by Britain after Nazi Germany invaded Ukraine in 1941. The recent find is of significant importance to Ukraine's aviation history, as no lend-lease aircraft have been previously discovered in the country.
Leading the excavation efforts, Oleks Shtan, a former airline pilot, expressed his enthusiasm.
"It is very rare to find this aircraft in Ukraine. It's very important for our aviation history because no lend-lease aircraft have been found here before," Shtan declared.
The Hurricane fighter planes were part of a larger package of approximately 3,000 aircraft provided to the USSR between 1941 and 1944 to support the Soviet war effort. Recognized for its strength, ease of use, and stability as a gun platform, the Hurricane proved suitable for inexperienced pilots, making it a reliable aircraft during the war.
Unfortunately, the rusting remains of the planes had been stripped of their valuable components, including radios and machine guns, and were subsequently dragged to the woodland area where they were discovered.
Historians believe that some of these aircraft were intentionally dismantled and buried after the war to avoid Soviet repayment obligations under lend-lease legislation. Moscow was required to reimburse the United States for any donated military equipment that remained intact.
The National Aviation Museum of Ukraine has expressed its intention to reassemble the Hurricanes and put them on display, recognizing their significance as a symbol of British assistance during the Second World War. Valerii Romanenko, the head of research at the museum, emphasized the historical value of the find and the ongoing British support to Ukraine.
"The Hurricanes are a symbol of British assistance during the years of the Second World War, just as we are very appreciative of British assistance nowadays. The UK is one of the largest suppliers of military equipment to our country now,” Valerii Romanenko stated.
In a separate recent development, the emptying of the vast reservoir along the Dnipro River resulted in the exposure of mudflats containing numerous skeletons. Historians believe that some of these remains may be from individuals who perished in a significant battle fought 80 years ago in the same area. This historical battleground now finds itself at the center of Ukraine's current counteroffensive against Russian occupation near Nikopol and Kamianka-Dniprovska.
The Battle of the Dnipro, one of the largest military operations of the Second World War, involved over 6mn troops and marked the Soviet army's counterattack against the German army.
As Ukraine continues to uncover these historical artifacts and remains, the nation reaffirms its commitment to preserving its rich heritage and honoring the sacrifices made during the Second World War.
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