A Conversation With Peter Suciu: How Security Failures Led to the Loss of the Antonov An-225

Peter Suciu is a freelance defense and national security journalist, editor, and author with more than three decades of experience covering military affairs and global security issues. Over the course of his career, he has published more than 3,200 articles across four dozen magazines, newspapers, and digital platforms, writing extensively on military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, geopolitics, and international affairs. He is a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs and is based in Michigan.

Ethan Romanov: You’ve covered everything from military hardware to international affairs, including aviation history. What personally drew you into the Antonov An-225 story, and what does this aircraft represent to you regarding both technology and global conflict?

Peter Suciu: I was drawn to the Antonov An-225 as it was a unique aircraft that was needlessly lost in a conflict I don’t believe should have ever started.

Ethan Romanov: With your expertise in a variety of topics, how do you see the Antonov story fitting into the broad picture of innovation and the loss of the aircraft during wartime?

Peter Suciu: The aircraft will be a footnote in the larger story of the war in Ukraine, but that is true of many conflicts. The Royal Castle in Warsaw was destroyed during World War II and restored, so in some ways we could see something similar with the An-225. However, that may become less likely as newer technology emerges. Instead of a new An-225, we could expect a new aircraft that could be as large or larger.

Ethan Romanov: You mentioned briefly that there had been talks about rebuilding the Antonov An-225. In your opinion, what would it take to actually bring this aircraft back to life, and what impact on the world do you think it would have to see it fly again?

Peter Suciu: There is the possibility Ukraine may opt to rebuild it as a symbol of its resilience, but that won’t happen until the war comes to an end.

Ethan Romanov: What advice do you have for the younger generation of students who are interested in entering the reporting industry?

Peter Suciu: My advice to future reporters is to write. That can include offering to contribute for free. This is something I did when I was younger, and I heard all sorts of grief from my family. The world has changed a lot since then, but no one is hired to be an investigative reporter for the New York Times; you have to pay dues and work your way to that point. And network; you can never meet enough fellow reporters, editors, sources, etc. Don’t go anywhere without business cards. Even today, when you can share details via a smartphone, when you meet a colleague or contact, you should hand them a business card.