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Who is the ‘Ghost of Kyiv’? Story of Ukrainian ace pilot goes viral

Unconfirmed reports of an ace Ukrainian fighter pilot have gone viral, with social media users dubbing the fighter the “Ghost of Kyiv.”

Supposedly downing as many as six Russian planes in the first day of combat, the Ghost of Kyiv — and their MiG-29 Fulcrum — quickly became a folk hero in a war breathlessly watched online.

The reports remain unconfirmed by Ukrainian officials — and the rumor is very likely false. The war remains rife with misinformation and propaganda, and a video purporting to be evidence of the Ghost turned out to instead be from a video game.

According to one widely circulated post, the Ghost of Kyiv supposedly shot down four Russian fighter jets — two Su-35 Flankers, one Su-27 Flanker and one MiG-29 Fulcrum — as well as two ground-attack aircraft, so-called Su-25 Frogfoots.

MIG-29 fighter aircrafts fly at a military air base in Vasylkiv, Ukraine REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
Soldiers look at the debris of a military plane that was shot down overnight in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 25, 2022. EPA

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As one Twitter user pointed out, such a kill count would stretch the ammunition capacity of the Soviet-era MiG-29.

Russia continued its attack on Ukraine on Feb. 25, 2022.

Regardless, the Ghost of Kyiv seems to have fulfilled a need. Many on social media argued the legend of an ace fighter pilot holding off the Russian advance was useful in its own right.

“True or not, this is EXACTLY the kind of inspiring story the resistance needs right now,” one user said.

Ukrainian officials said Thursday their forces had downed seven Russian planes in total, along with six Russian helicopters.