According to foreign media reports from many countries, the Ukrainian mysterious fighter pilot, known as the "ghost of Kiev", has been confirmed to have been killed in the battle by Ukrainian side. It was allegedly "shooted down dozens of Russian aircraft" during the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Recently, the identity of the mysterious pilot is now revealed for the first time. He is a 29-year-old major named Stepan Tarabalka.
According to reports, the story of the ace pilot "Ghost of Kiev" has become a symbol of Ukraine. However, many media and netizens have expressed doubts about such "legendary deeds", believing that the story itself is difficult to verify, and it is difficult to say that Talabarka is really a "ghost of Kiev", and it may also be a "myth" deliberately launched by the Ukrainian side to boost morale.
↑ The authenticity of the "Ghost of Kiev" is still under heated discussion. The image is from the Ukrainian Armed Forces
. It is said that 40 Russian military aircraft are shot down, and the relics will be auctioned in London. According to foreign media reports, the legendary deeds of the "Ghost of Kiev" originated from the fact that within 30 hours after the outbreak of the conflict, a Ukrainian pilot shot down five or six Russian jets , becoming the "flag bearer" of national defense. The Ukrainian General Staff wrote on social media, "People call him the 'ghost of Kiev ', which is correct - this UAF (Ukrainian Air Force) ace dominates the capital and the country."
The identity of the ace pilot has not been made public. Recently, Ukraine confirmed that Major Talabarka, who died, was the "ghost of Kiev". According to reports, Ukrainian sources said that on March 13, Talabarka was shot down and killed while confronting a "overwhelming" number of Russian troops. Prior to that, the 29-year-old major shot down as many as 40 Russian aircraft during the conflict. However, foreign media also pointed out in the report that the data provided by Ukraine to shoot down Russian aircraft has not been confirmed.
His family said that after Talabarka died, he was posthumously awarded the highest-level medal of Ukraine: The Medal of Venus , and won the title of Ukrainian hero (the highest honor of the Ukrainian army). According to sources, Talabarca's helmet and goggles will also be auctioned in London.
↑ Stepan Talabarka
It is reported that Talabarka comes from a working family. He was born in a small village in Korolifka in western Ukraine. He grew up next to a local military airport . Later, he graduated from Kharkov National Air Force University. His family does not have any "military background". His parents work in Portugal most of the year.
"He decided at a very young age that he most wanted to become a fighter pilot." Talabarka's parents said in an interview with foreign media. His mother Natalia said that when Talabarka was a child, he often watched MiG jets enter and exit at nearby military airports. After he became a pilot, "whenever he had the chance, he would fly to our house and tilt the " MiG-29" wings flying in tribute to the village." His mother recalled. "Flying near the village, he will do some small stunts to show what he has learned."
↑ Parents said that the Ukrainian military will not provide any details of Talabarka's death to their families.
It is reported that Talabarka performed a flight support mission in the Donbas conflict zone in 2014. After the Russian-Ukrainian conflict broke out in February this year, he served as a fighter pilot. Talabarka was allegedly buried in a cemetery in his hometown of Korolifka after his death. After his death, his wife Olenia and their 8-year-old son Alec were left behind.
Is the legendary story real? There are different opinions from various schools
Since the saying "Ghost of Kiev" began to spread, there have been many doubts. Some media analysts said that there is no definite evidence that a Ukrainian pilot flying the MiG fighter jet shot down several Russian fighter jets. In addition, legendary stories about fighter pilots have appeared in World War II , but there are many stories, which are more or less "a mixture of fiction and reality".
In addition, because the identity has been kept secret, many people speculate that the "Kiev Ghost" is a "myth" by the Ukrainian military to boost morale, but senior Ukrainian government officials have always claimed that the "Kiev Ghost" is real. Now the "Ghost of Kiev" is confirmed by Ukraine as Major Talabarka. Foreign media pointed out that because the story itself is difficult to confirm, it is also difficult to say whether Talabarka is really the "Ghost of Kiev".
According to foreign media reports, Ukrainian authorities claimed that since the outbreak of the conflict, Ukrainian troops have destroyed 189 Russian aircraft, 155 helicopters and 229 drones, and Talabarka alone may be "responsible" to 40 of them.
Tarabalka's parents also don't seem to know his "legendary story". "We only know that he is on a mission, he completed the mission and never came back. That's all we know." Talabarka's father said that the Ukrainian military will not provide them with any details about their son's last mission or death.
Red Star News Reporter Ding Wen
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