Ghost of Kyiv

Ghost of Kyiv
Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29
Allegiance Ukraine
Service/branch Ukrainian Air Force
Battles/wars2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Ghost of Kyiv (Ukrainian: Привид Києва, romanized: Pryvyd Kyyeva) is the nickname given to an unconfirmed MiG-29 Fulcrum flying ace. They are known for shooting down six Russian planes in the Kyiv offensive on 24 February 2022.[1][2] The Ghost of Kyiv is likely an urban legend[3] and not a real flying ace.

As early as May 2022, the Ukrainian Air Force said that Ghost of Kyiv is only a myth; The air force also gave a warning that people should not "neglect the basic rules of information hygiene" and to "check the sources of information, before spreading" information.[4][5][6]

History of the myth

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said that the Ghost of Kyiv could be one of dozens of experienced pilots of military reserve who returned to the Armed Forces of Ukraine after Russia invaded.[7]

A former Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, later posted a tweet of a photograph of a fighter pilot, claiming it to be the Ghost of Kyiv, who Poroshenko said was real.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "'ПРИВИД КИЄВА': ПІЛОТ МІГ-29 ЗА 30 ГОДИН ЗДОБУВ 6 ПОВІТРЯНИХ ПЕРЕМОГ НАД ОКУПАНТОМ" ['GHOST OF KYIV': MIG-29 PILOT WON 6 AIR VICTORIES OVER THE OCCUPIER IN 30 HOURS]. 5 Kanal (Ukraine) (in Ukrainian). February 25, 2022. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  2. ↑ Van Brugen, Isabel (February 25, 2022). "'Ghost of Kyiv' Ukraine fighter pilot becomes the stuff of legend". Newsweek. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  3. ↑ Keller, Jared (February 25, 2022). "'The Ghost of Kyiv' is the first urban legend of Russia's invasion of Ukraine". Task & Purpose. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  4. ↑ Bubola, Emma (1 May 2022). "Ukraine acknowledges that the 'Ghost of Kyiv' is a myth". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  5. ↑ Beachum, Lateshia (1 May 2022). "The 'Ghost of Kyiv' was never alive, Ukrainian air force says". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  6. ↑ Peter, Laurence (1 May 2022). "How Ukraine's 'Ghost of Kyiv' legendary pilot was born". BBC News. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  7. ↑ "🛩🛩🛩🛩 До строю авіації... - Міністерство оборони України" [To the air force ... - Ministry of Defense of Ukraine]. Facebook (in Ukrainian). Ministry of Defence (Ukraine). February 25, 2022. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Former Ukraine president confirms the 'Ghost of Kyiv' is real". MARCA. 2022-02-26. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2022-02-26.