{"id":1459746,"date":"2022-05-02T07:29:53","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T11:29:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1459746"},"modified":"2022-05-02T07:29:57","modified_gmt":"2022-05-02T11:29:57","slug":"ukraine-admits-ghost-of-kyiv-pilot-isnt-real","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ukraine-admits-ghost-of-kyiv-pilot-isnt-real\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine Admits \u201cGhost of Kyiv\u201d Pilot Isn\u2019t Real"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fukraine-admits-ghost-of-kyiv-pilot-isnt-real%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1459746&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><\/div>\n<div class=\"RichTextArticleBody\">\n<div class=\"RichTextArticleBody-body\">\n<p>The <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/ghost-of-kyiv-lone-fighter-pilot-credited-with-shooting-down-six-russian-jets\">&#8220;Ghost of Kyiv&#8221;<\/a> is more myth than man.<\/p>\n<p>A report that the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/war-in-ukraine\">Ukrainian<\/a> fighter pilot who flew into people&#8217;s hearts as a modern Red Baron flying a <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense-national-security\/pentagon-does-not-object-to-potential-transfer-of-jets-from-slovakia-to-ukraine\">MiG-29 jet<\/a> and shooting Russian rivals out of the sky was identified and killed in battle can&#8217;t be true \u2014 because he never existed, according to Ukrainian officials.<\/p>\n<div class=\"Enhancement\">\n<div class=\"Enhancement-item\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Ghost of Kyiv is a superhero-legend whose character was created by Ukrainians!&#8221; <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ragipsoylu\/status\/1520466816816013314\">the Ukrainian military said<\/a> on Saturday. &#8220;This is rather a collective image of the pilots of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade defending the sky of the capital. Which suddenly appear where they are not expected.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The mysterious ace emerged early in Russia&#8217;s war on Ukraine, with the story that the pilot shot down six <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/weekly-standard\/russia\">Russian<\/a> jets. Fast-forward more than two months into the conflict, and Major Stepan Tarabalka, a 29-year-old father of one, was identified as the Ghost of Kyiv, killed in battle after taking out as many as 40 Russian aircraft, <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.co.uk\/\">the <\/a><i><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.co.uk\/\">Times of London<\/a><\/i><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.co.uk\/\"> reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"Enhancement\">\n<div class=\"Enhancement-item\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Although Tarabalka was a &#8220;hero,&#8221; he was &#8220;NOT &#8216;Ghost of Kyiv&#8217; and he did NOT hit 40 planes,&#8221; Ukraine&#8217;s Air Force insisted. He was &#8220;heroically killed in an air battle with the dominant forces of the Russian occupiers,&#8221; the military branch said on Facebook, adding that he died on March 13.<\/p>\n<p>The <i>Times of London<\/i>, which still reports Ukrainian sources claiming he was real, now says it understood that Tarabalka <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.co.uk\/article\/ghost-of-kyiv-who-shot-down-more-than-40-russian-aircraft-dies-in-battle-q3sq0hztx\">inspired the legend<\/a> of the Ghost of Kyiv, even if it wasn&#8217;t him exactly.<\/p>\n<p><b><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/russia-unable-to-replace-sunken-moskva-ship-but-still-able-to-hit-targets-from-black-sea-uk\">RUSSIA CAN&#8217;T REPLACE SUNKEN MOSKVA, BUT STILL ABLE TO HIT TARGETS FROM SEA: UK<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Ghost of Kyiv is alive and embodies a collective image of the highly qualified pilots of the tactical aviation brigade successfully defending Kyiv and the surrounding region,&#8221; said Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat.<\/p>\n<p>Tarabalka was posthumously awarded the Order of the Golden Star, the highest military honor, and given the title Hero of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>The Ghost of Kyiv story, as described by Ukrainian military historian Mikhail Zhirohov for BBC, was <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-europe-61285833.amp\">&#8220;propaganda for raising morale&#8221;<\/a> in the face of Russia&#8217;s superior military might when the invasion began.<\/p>\n<p>Among those who fueled some of the early speculation about the existence of the Ghost of Kyiv was former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In the photo &#8211; the MiG-29 pilot. The same &#8216;Ghost of Kiev,'&#8221; he shared on Twitter in late February, according to a translation. &#8220;It terrifies enemies and pride Ukrainians.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He has 6 victories over Russian pilots!&#8221; Poroshenko added. &#8220;With such powerful defenders, Ukraine will definitely win!&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"Enhancement\">\n<div class=\"Enhancement-item\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"uk\" dir=\"ltr\">\u041d\u0430 \u0444\u043e\u0442\u043e \u2013 \u043f\u0456\u043b\u043e\u0442 \u041c\u0456\u0413-29. \u0422\u043e\u0439 \u0441\u0430\u043c\u0438\u0439 \u00ab\u041f\u0440\u0438\u0432\u0438\u0434 \u041a\u0438\u0454\u0432\u0430\u00bb. <\/p>\n<p>\u0412\u0456\u043d \u0432\u0438\u043a\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0430\u0454 \u0436\u0430\u0445 \u0443 \u0432\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0433\u0456\u0432 \u0442\u0430 \u0433\u043e\u0440\u0434\u0456\u0441\u0442\u044c \u0432 \u0443\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0446\u0456\u0432 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 <\/p>\n<p>\u041d\u0430 \u0439\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0440\u0430\u0445\u0443\u043d\u043a\u0443 6 \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u043c\u043e\u0433 \u043d\u0430\u0434 \u0440\u043e\u0441\u0456\u0439\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u043c\u0438 \u043f\u0456\u043b\u043e\u0442\u0430\u043c\u0438! <\/p>\n<p>\u0417 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u0438\u043c\u0438 \u043f\u043e\u0442\u0443\u0436\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0438 \u0437\u0430\u0445\u0438\u0441\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0430\u043c\u0438 \u0423\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0430 \u0442\u043e\u0447\u043d\u043e \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u043c\u043e\u0436\u0435! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GJLpcJ31Si\">pic.twitter.com\/GJLpcJ31Si<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 \u041f\u0435\u0442\u0440\u043e \u041f\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u0435\u043d\u043a\u043e (@poroshenko) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/poroshenko\/status\/1497293195763408905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 25, 2022<\/a>\n             <\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In the United States, Rep. Adam Kinzinger celebrated the Ghost of Kyiv&#8217;s rumored accomplishments and also <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/adam-kinzinger-falls-for-shoddy-photoshopped-ghost-of-kyiv-hoax-gets-mocked\">apparently fell for a photoshopped tweet<\/a> claiming to reveal the Ghost of Kyiv&#8217;s identity.<\/p>\n<p>Lesia Vasylenko, a member of the Parliament of Ukraine, shared a &#8220;few&#8221; points on the Ghost of Kyiv on Sunday, tweeting, &#8220;he is alive and well,&#8221; &#8220;he can\u2019t be killed &#8211; he is a ghost,&#8221; &#8220;he IS a legend,&#8221; and &#8220;he is all those brave ace pilots that appear out of nowhere protecting the skies.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"Enhancement\">\n<div class=\"Enhancement-item\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A few point on the Ghost of Kyiv:<br \/>\u2043he is alive and well<br \/>\u2043he can\u2019t be killed &#8211; he is a ghost <br \/>\u2043he IS a legend<br \/>\u2043he is all those brave ace pilots that appear out of nowhere protecting the skies<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lesia Vasylenko (@lesiavasylenko) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lesiavasylenko\/status\/1520691186025091072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 1, 2022<\/a>\n             <\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The widespread fascination with the Ghost of Kyiv was coupled early in the war with the gripping tale of the defenders of Snake Island. <\/p>\n<p><b><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\">CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p>According to early accounts, 13 Ukrainian border guards on Snake Island, also known as Zmiinyi Island, were reported to have perished after one told an imposing <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russia\">Russian<\/a> warship to <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense-national-security\/ukrainian-defenders-tell-russian-warship-go-f-yourself-before-death-on-snake-island-report\">&#8220;go f*** yourself&#8221;<\/a> when they were instructed to lay down their weapons and surrender. Ukrainian President <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Volodymyr-Zelensky\">Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a> hailed the 13 guards believed to have died as heroes, saying they would be &#8220;awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine posthumously.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, after Russia <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense-national-security\/snake-island-sailors-freed-in-russia-ukraine-prisoner-swap\">claimed that a garrison<\/a> at the outpost had voluntarily surrendered to its forces, the Ukrainian Navy said the defenders <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2022\/02\/28\/europe\/snake-island-ukraine-russia-survivors-alive-intl\/index.html\">were &#8220;alive and well.&#8221;<\/a> Roman Hrybov has been identified as the border guard who cursed out the Russian warship. He <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themoscowtimes.com\/2022\/03\/30\/ukraine-honors-soldier-who-cursed-out-russian-warship-a77140\">apparently was released<\/a> in a <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense-national-security\/snake-island-sailors-freed-in-russia-ukraine-prisoner-swap\">prisoner exchange<\/a> and then awarded a medal.<\/p>\n<p>The <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense-national-security\/organization-for-security-and-cooperation-in-europe-russian-troops-deported-500-000-ukrainians\">Russian<\/a> Navy missile cruiser that led the famous attack on <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense-national-security\/snake-island-defenders-may-still-be-alive-ukraine-says\">Snake Island<\/a> in the Black Sea sank to the bottom of the Black Sea last month. <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crew-evacuates-russian-flagship-after-ukraine-boasts-of-missile-attack\">Ukrainian forces hit the Russian flagship<\/a> <i>Moskva\u00a0<\/i>with two Neptune missiles, <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense-national-security\/pentagon-affirms-russian-flagship-blasted-by-ukrainian-missiles-before-sinking\">the Pentagon affirmed<\/a>, and the vessel sank the next day.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The &#8220;Ghost of Kyiv&#8221; is more myth than man. A report that the Ukrainian fighter pilot who flew into people&#8217;s hearts as a modern Red Baron flying a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":498,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1459746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1459746","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/498"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1459746"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1459746\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1459746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1459746"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1459746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}