published2. May 2022, 9:58 p.m.
The Ukrainian Air Force clarifies what is behind the legendary pilot who is said to have shot down 40 Russian planes.
The identity of the legendary flying ace also seemed to be revealed: fighter jet pilot Stepan Tarabalka (29), who died in combat on March 13 and was posthumously honored with the “Hero of Ukraine” medal.
Ukrainian Armed Forces
The Ukrainian Air Force is now making it clear: Behind the “ghost of Kyiv” is a collective of pilots from the 40th tactical aviation brigade, which is defending the sky over the capital with old MiG-29s (symbolic image).
REUTERS
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The legend of the “Ghost of Kyiv” shooting down rows of Russian jets and securing the skies over Kyiv arose early on.
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With the death of military pilot Stepan Tarabalka (29) his identity is said to have been revealed.
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The Ukrainian Air Force is now clarifying what the legend is really about.
He became a legend at the beginning of the war: the “Ghost of Kyiv”, a pilot in the Ukrainian Air Force, who shot down 40 Russian jets alone and is said to have played a major role in Russia’s not completely dominating Ukrainian airspace, despite its great superiority.
International media reported over the weekend also 20 minutes that the “Ghost of Kyiv” was killed in March. The identity of the legendary flying ace has also been revealed: military pilot Stepan Tarabalka (29). Ukrainian authorities confirmed that Tarabalka fell in battle on March 13 and was posthumously awarded the Hero of Ukraine medal. At the time, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense published a video on Twitter that honored the 29-year-old’s achievements.
«A collective image of pilots of the 40th Tactical Air Brigade»
Now the legend has become a myth. The Ukrainian Air Force has officially clarified: Tarabalka is not the “ghost of Kyiv” nor did he shoot down 40 Russian planes – a number that military analysts had strongly doubted from the start.
Rather, the “ghost of Kyiv” is a “collective image of pilots from the Air Force’s 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade defending the skies over the capital” and not “a single man’s combat record,” according to the Air Force. If anything, one would have to speak of “ghosts of Kyiv” – after all, the Ukrainian pilots actually succeed in challenging Russia for control of the airspace.
“Increase Morale”
Ukrainian military historian Mikhail Zhirohov describes the myth of the “ghost of Kyiv” as “propaganda to boost morale”. Speaking to the BBC, he said: “This propaganda is important because our armed forces are smaller and many think we cannot match the Russians”.
Accordingly, it is important to have a positive narrative that not only boosts the morale of the armed forces, but of the entire nation.
Pilots with obsolete Russian MiG-29
The fact that these pilots fly outdated Russian-made MiG-29s completes the hero image that was spread right at the beginning of the war. The Ukrainian security service (Sluzhba bespeky Ukrajiny, SBU) published on Telegram a photo of a fighter pilot who shot down ten Russian planes.
The man’s name was not given and the photo used appeared to be an old one. Up until now, it has obviously been consciously left with the fact that the public saw the “spirit of Kyiv” in the unknown.
The insult to Funker Hribow
Equal in effect, and yet more than a legend in the Ukraine war, are the events surrounding the Russian flagship «Moscow». They began with the radio message from Ukrainian marine Roman Hribov on February 24 – “Russian Warship, go fuck yourself” – …
… and found with a stamp and the destruction of the proud Russian guided missile cruiser ended on April 14th.
National legends and myths, such as the “Ghost of Kyiv”, emerge all the more easily the more reliable facts and information are missing and can be glossed over.
190 or 26 planes?
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on April 30 that Russia had lost 190 planes and 155 helicopters so far. However, independent military analysts put the Russian losses at 26 planes and 39 helicopters and 48 drones, as the “BBC” reports.
Both Russia and Ukraine keep their losses top secret.
How to close the chapter «Spirit of Kyiv», the Ukrainian Air Force is now writing Facebookthat the “superhero legend” was ultimately created by Ukrainians. She asks the Ukrainian public not to neglect “the basic rules of information hygiene” and urges them to “check the sources of information before disseminating it”.
Now the Air Force is emphasizing that “Tarabalka is not the ‘ghost of Kyiv’ and he didn’t hit 40 planes.”
She describes the “ghost of Kyiv” as “a collective image of pilots from the Air Force’s 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade defending the skies over the capital,” rather than a single man’s combat record.
(gux)