Russia-Ukraine war: ‘Ghost of Kyiv’ no more, shot down forty enemy aircraft before dying

Ukraine has suffered a major setback in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The pilot, known to Ukraine as the ‘Ghost of Kiev’ or ‘Ghost of Kyiv’, has died. The name was given to the Ukrainian MiG-29 pilot who shot down dozens of Russian fighter jets during the war for Ukraine.

According to a report in the British newspaper The Times, the ‘Ghost of Kyiv’ has been identified as Major Stephen Tarabalka. He was awarded the Army’s highest honors ‘Order of the Golden Star’ and ‘Hero of Ukraine’. Let us tell you that before being killed on March 13, Major Tarabalka shot down 40 Russian aircraft. The government-funded US media organization National Public Radio claimed it had interviewed the pilot’s parents Nahtalia and Ivonne Tarabalka a few days ago. He told that his son wanted to become something more than a pilot since his youth. He said that we knew he was on a flying mission. The parents told that their son had also completed the mission. But he did not return after that.

Let us tell you that in February the war was started by Russia against Ukraine. During this, the Ukrainian government tweeted a video praising the ‘Ghost of Kyiv’. The government gave him the title of ‘Ace’ pilot who shot down five or more enemy aircraft in battle.

Significantly, Russia is trying to capture the industrial region of Donbass. At the same time, Ukrainian soldiers are fighting fiercely against Russian soldiers trying to advance in the southern and eastern parts of the country. While cannon attacks, sirens and explosions were heard in some cities on Friday, the United Nations appeared to be trying to evacuate people from Mariupol. The mayor of Mariupol said the situation in the city was dire. Mayor Vedim Boichenko said citizens were begging to save lives. Now it is not a matter of days but a matter of hours.