Ukraine Denies Death News, Confirms Legend Of Fighter Jet Pilot Dubbed 'Ghost Of Kyiv'

JAKARTA - The Ukrainian Air Force has clarified the whereabouts of a legendary fighter jet pilot nicknamed the 'Kyiv Ghost', who is claimed to have succeeded in downing dozens of Russian fighter jets in the ongoing war.

The story of the exploits of the heroic Ukrainian 'Top Gun' emerges hours after the Russian invasion on 24 February. Local reports say the Kyiv Ghost has been involved in more than 40 battles, in which he has successfully targeted Russian aircraft and praised his heroism.

But in recent days, reports have suggested that the pilot may have died in action, with speculation the 'ghost' was 29-year-old Major Stepan Tarabalk, who lost his life to enemy action on March 13.

On Sunday, the Ukrainian military denied Tarabalk was the Ghost of Kyiv, but said he was a skilled fighter pilot, having shot down many Russian planes.

Paying his last respects to Tarabalk, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat seems to point out, the Ghost of Kyiv is a symbol of Ukraine's courage to defend the country's skies from the much larger Russian air force.

In a statement carried by the British newspaper The Times, Ignat clarified that the Kyiv Ghost had become an evocative symbol for Ukraine in war to raise the morale of fellow soldiers.

He said his name had been used to represent all pilots operating in the airspace around the Ukrainian capital.

"The ghost of Kyiv is still alive and embodies the collective image of the highly qualified pilots of the tactical aviation brigade who successfully defended Kyiv and the surrounding region," he explained, as reported by The National News May 1.

Ignat said father-of-one Tarabalk was awarded the Hero Gold Star, the highest military award in the Ukrainian armed forces.

"Stepan was a brave and talented pilot, greatly missed by his family and fellow soldiers," he said.

Separately, Tarabalka's helmet and goggles are expected to go on sale at auction in London, according to The Times.

The legend of the Kyiv Ghost emerged after the Ukrainian government released an artist's impression of the fighter pilot, during the first hours of the Russian offensive on February 24.

Since then, the Ukrainian military has claimed Russian fighter losses, including 189 fighter jets and bombers, but some analysts dispute the accuracy of these claims.

But conflict monitors say even if Ukraine's claims to destroy large amounts of Russian equipment are exaggerated, Russia has lost a lot of its fighting power, 67 days into the war.

More than 5.4 million Ukrainians have fled their country since Russia invaded two months ago, with tens of thousands joining their ranks every day, according to the United Nations.

Excluding refugees, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that more than 7.7 million people have been displaced in Ukraine. This means that more than 13 million people in total have been affected by the conflict.