VDNH (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy) in Kyiv has released an exclusive video revealing the interior of the iconic presidential aircraft Tu-134 “Ukraine”, now open to the public.
This is a rare opportunity to closely explore the cockpit and fuselage of an aircraft that was once a symbol of the nation’s aviation.
+ Click here to watch the video
About the Tu-134 “Ukraine”
The Tupolev Tu-134 is a twin-engine jet developed in the Soviet Union, widely used for short and medium-haul flights between 1966 and 1989.
The Tu-134A-3 version, like the one on display at VDNH, features improvements such as more powerful turbofan engines and modern systems. It was also adapted for VIP use, serving in presidential and governmental missions.
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Guided tour details
Location: VDNH, Kyiv
Dates and times: Friday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Notable Tu-134 accidents
But beyond its historical fascination, the Tu-134 carries a past filled with dramatic events. Throughout its service — both civil and VIP —, the Soviet jet was involved in dozens of accidents, many of them severe or fatal.
- The Tupolev Tu-134 was involved in 76 hull-loss accidents, resulting in 1,387 deaths.
- On August 11, 1979, two Tu-134 aircraft collided mid-air over what was then the Ukrainian SSR, in Dniprodzerzhynsk — resulting in 178 fatalities.
- Another striking case occurred in 1975 with Interflug Flight 1107, which crashed during approach to Leipzig Airport, killing 27 passengers and crew.
- On July 2, 1986, Aeroflot Flight 2306 suffered an in-flight fire and crashed during an emergency landing, claiming 54 lives.
- More recently, on June 20, 2011, RusAir Flight 9605, operated as RusLine Flight 243, crashed in dense fog near Petrozavodsk, Russia — 47 of the 52 people on board were killed.
Source and images: Instagram VDNH | @aviamuseum | @kai_university. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
