THE LEGENDARY Ghost of Kyiv fighter pilot has been killed in battle after Ukraine claimed he shot down 40 Russian warplanes.
The brave fighter became popular at the start of Putin's invasion when the Ukrainian military shared an image of him claiming he had shot down ten Russian jets.
Dad-of-one Major Stepan Tarabalka, 29, was killed on March 13, while fighting “overwhelming” enemy forces, the Times reported.
Ukrainian sources confirmed the identity and his death adding that they expected his helmet and goggles to go for sale at an auction in London.
The 29-year-old from the village of Korolivka in western Ukraine has left behind his wife Olenia and their eight-year-old son Yarik.
He was posthumously awarded Ukraine’s top medal for bravery in combat, the Order of the Golden Star, with the title Hero of Ukraine.
READ MORE ON UKRAINE
Putin’s bloodthirsty assassins just minutes from killing Zelensky & family
‘Ghost of Kyiv’ fighter ace KILLED as Ukraine claims he downed 40 planes
After his death, his parents gave an interview to NPR with his mum Nahtalia recalling how he used to watch the MiG jets when he was younger.
She said via 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.
"Since early childhood, he always dreamed of the sky, about flying higher than the clouds.”
Most read in The Sun
WW3 MAY DAY 
Putin could declare new world war within DAYS, warns Defence Secretary
Major warning issued to Brits planning Spain holidays this summer
I want to change my son's surname as he'll get bullied – his dad won't let me
Katie Price in new row with ex Kieran over 'inappropriate' TikTok video of Bunny
She added: “At any opportunity, he would fly close to our house, do a little aerobatic trick.
"And everyone in the village, every house and all the villages around would know that is Stepan flying."
The pilot's dad Evon, a construction worker, said the Ukrainian military would not give them any details of his son's death.
He said: “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, really.”
Back in March, the Ukrainian military shared a snap showing a person wearing an oxygen mask in the cockpit of an MiG-29 fighter jet, with the caption “Hello, occupier, I’m coming for your soul!”.
The so-called Ghost of Kyiv became a symbol of resistance in the face of Vladimir Putin's invasion after Ukrainian government officials shared macho propaganda of the masked pilot appearing to shoot down enemy planes.
Footage allegedly showed the MiG-29 jet soaring through the air before destroying six Kremlin planes on the first day Putin launched his war.
The Ukrainian government’s official account posted the 38-second clip on their social media back on February 27, writing: “People call him the Ghost of Kyiv.
"And rightly so – this UAF ace dominates the skies over our capital and country, and has already become a nightmare for invading Russian aircrafts.”
The footage starts with a cartoon mock-up of the plane, before going into the debunked footage of a destroyed Russian jet.
Text then appears on the video, which states: “Ukraine probably got its first ace since World War II. This is the anonymous pilot of the MiG-29, nicknamed the Ghost of Kyiv.
Read More on The Sun
Putin could declare new world war within DAYS, warns Defence Secretary
The One Show fans all have the same complaint about Rob and Romesh interview
“In the first 30 hours of the Russian invasion in February 2022 he shot down six Russian military aircraft.
“As of February 26 – 10 military planes of the occupiers. To become an ace pilot, you need to shoot down five planes. And the Ghost of Kyiv shot twice as many."
Help those fleeing conflict with The Sun’s Ukraine Fund
PICTURES of women and children fleeing the horror of Ukraine’s devastated towns and cities have moved Sun readers to tears.
Many of you want to help the five million caught in the chaos — and now you can, by donating to The Sun's Ukraine Fund.
Give as little as £3 or as much as you can afford and every penny will be donated to the Red Cross on the ground helping women, children, the old, the infirm and the wounded.
Donate here to help The Sun's fund
Or text to 70141 from UK mobiles
£3 — text SUN£3
£5 — text SUN£5
£10 — text SUN£10
Texts cost your chosen donation amount (e.g. £5) +1 standard message (we receive 100%). For full T&Cs visit redcross.org.uk/mobile
The Ukraine Crisis Appeal will support people in areas currently affected and those potentially affected in the future by the crisis.
In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world.
For more information visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund
Source: Read Full Article
