Military experts believe it is unlikely that a single fighter pilot shot down roughly 40 enemy aircraft. Major Stepan Tarabalka was awarded the title 'Hero of Ukraine' (posthumously) for the protection of airspace, valor and courage."īut was Tarabalka really the legendary "Ghost of Kyiv"? Moreover, did such an exceptional pilot ever actually exist? The post read, "On March 13, 2022, during an air battle with the overwhelming forces of the invaders, Major Stepan Tarabalka 'went to heaven'. The pilot's death had been announced by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry on Twitter in late March. But news outlets such as the Times in the UK and the New York Post also speculated that the "Ghost of Kyiv" was 29-year-old Stepan Tarabalka.įorty planes shot down 'highly exaggerated' The story - just like the recent news of the war hero's death - spread primarily via social media. Videos of the ace pilot began circulating online at the beginning of the war and he quickly made headlines as the "Ghost of Kyiv". He was alleged to have single-handedly brought down roughly 40 Russian planes since the invasion began.
It was a story that gave courage and hope to the people of Ukraine during wartime: The military was putting up a fierce fight against the Russian invasion, and one very exceptional fighter pilot became a folk hero.
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