“Ghost of Kyiv” dies in battle- reportedly shot down 40 Russian aircrafts
The "Ghost of Kyiv", identified as Major Stepan Tarabalka, gained worldwide fame after shooting down 10 Russian aircraft on the first day of the war. Ukrainians on social media hailed the pilot as a “guardian angel”
A military pilot known as the Ghost of Kyiv dies in an air battle last month after supposedly shooting down around 40 Russian aircraft.
Major Stepan Tarabalka, 29, a father of one, was killed when the MiG-29 he was flying was shot down on March 13 while fighting “overwhelming” enemy powers, as per local reports.
The fighter pilot was posthumously awarded Ukraine’s top medal for bravery in combat, the Order of the Golden Star, according to his family quoted by the Times. He was also given the title of the Hero of Ukraine.
Ukrainian sources today confirmed the identity of the fighter pilot and his death to the press.
They said his helmet and goggles were expected to go on sale at auction soon in London, although gave no further details.
Tarabalka became famous after shooting down 10 Russian aeroplanes on the first day of the Russian invasion. “People call him the Ghost of Kyiv. And rightly so,” the Ukrainian government had said in a tweet last month.
Ukraine’s General Staff later tweeted another picture of the ace fighter pilot in the cockpit of his MiG-29 jet with his face covered, captioned, “Hello, occupier, I’m coming for your soul!”
Many people questioned whether the “Ghost” was genuine, as his character stayed a secret — apparently even to his grieving family when told of their loved one’s demise a month ago.
“We know he was flying on a mission. And he completed the mission, his task. Then he didn’t return. That’s all the information we have,” his dad told the outlet.
Tarabalka’s parents told how their son’s lifelong dream was to become a fighter pilot while growing up next to a military airfield in the village of Korolivka.
“Since early childhood, he always dreamed of the sky, about flying higher than the clouds,” his mother told NPR through a translator.
“He would always watch the paratroopers in their air exercises. And he would run in their direction to try to see where they landed,” his mother said.
His parents were surprised when he made his dream come true, despite having no military connections.
“Becoming a pilot, it was his own effort. He did it all himself. I just helped with prayers,” his mother said.
They confirmed that Tarabalka — who leaves behind a wife, Olenia, and an 8-year-old son, Yarik — was awarded the Order of the Golden Star, with the title Hero of Ukraine.
“Of course, he’d already earned this award when he was with us,” his father told the press.
“But we wish he could get the honour after the war. We just wish he was still alive.”
