RIP Ghost of Kyiv (Page 1/1)
randye APR 30, 03:59 AM


https://woc1420.iheart.com/...DlE8jIQmBzJTaozJKGp8

"The Times of London identified him as 29-year-old Major Stepan Tarabalka and said he shot down over 40 Russian aircraft during the first month of the invasion. Tarabalka died in March during an air battle in which he faced off against an "overwhelming" number of Russian fighter jets.

Tarabalka leaves behind his wife, Olenia, and their eight-year-old son Yarik."



40 claimed kills is an incredible number and I'm sure more clarification and verification will come somewhere down the road, but for now it's enough to just recognize a brave pilot that gave all for his country against overwhelming odds.

[This message has been edited by randye (edited 04-30-2022).]

olejoedad APR 30, 09:21 AM
Thanks for posting. Not much info about the air war over Ukraine.
cliffw APR 30, 09:31 AM

quote
Originally posted by randye:
... it's enough to just recognize a brave pilot that gave all for his country against overwhelming odds.



I am in awe of all Ukranian fighters fighting for their country.



Poll: Almost Forty Percent of Americans Say That They Would Rather Flee Than Defend the United States
MidEngineManiac APR 30, 02:18 PM
Whatever...

Sad and old as we get, canes and crutches and tri-focal glasses, I'd do it all over again in a second.

Ya know man, there was a time, long time ago, crossing into the USA required a liquid entry permit.....4 X- tims with real cream (none of that milk stuff) and then once ya showed them an L1 and you are legal. Brown sugar and Kinder eggs never cross the border, but step 6 inches to this side.....ya have to stand around shooting the **** for an hour while everybody gets a sugar and caffeine fix.

I miss those days.

[This message has been edited by MidEngineManiac (edited 04-30-2022).]

randye APR 30, 10:49 PM

quote
Originally posted by olejoedad:

Thanks for posting. Not much info about the air war over Ukraine.




You're right, there isn't much info on the air war coming out, but I started casually following the "Ghost of Kyiv" story when it first appeared.
One of the things I found interesting about this story is how propaganda has been used by the Russians and the Ukrainians about this same fighter pilot.

The story first broke back in Feburary with Ukrainians dubbing the mysterious fighter pilot that was destroying Russian aircraft as the "Ghost of Kyiv" and hailing his number of kills.



Then what I call "Russian counter propaganda" appeared saying that the "Ghost" is a myth and just Ukrainian propaganda to keep up morale of their troops.

https://www.opindia.com/202...ot-viral-fact-check/

Then there were actual Ukranian video interviews of a fighter pilot, (identity hidden, seated in his Mig 29 on a Ukranian air base), and he claimed to be the "Ghost of Kyiv" and he specifically detailed some of his air battles.



Then the "counter propaganda" appeared again, saying the videos were staged and that the "Ghost" was a myth and propaganda.

I don't see much "propaganda value" now with the Ukrainians publicly announcing Major Tarabalka's death while the war is ongoing so I'm putting more confidence in the truth of the story from the beginning, plus it might help clarify why the Russian VVS has not been able to claim air superiority over Ukraine if there are other defending pilots anywhere near as skilled and accomplished as Tarabalka.

He is also reportedly the first European fighter Ace since World War 2 and, if confirmed, his 40 kills will make him the highest scoring ace in any conflict since World War 2.

[This message has been edited by randye (edited 04-30-2022).]

Wichita MAY 04, 11:57 PM
There is a lot of fake news coming out of Ukraine and Russia, both.
olejoedad MAY 05, 06:38 AM
Warfare has always involved propaganda.

Disinformation is a weapon, and can be used effectively with modern communication systems.
82-T/A [At Work] MAY 05, 08:31 AM
I saw a report that said that the government of Ukraine officially declared that this individual never existed, and that the "Ghost of Kyiv" represented all fighters for Ukraine (or something).
cliffw MAY 13, 09:50 AM

quote
Originally posted by cliffw:
I am in awe of all Ukranian fighters fighting for their country.

Poll: Almost Forty Percent of Americans Say That They Would Rather Flee Than Defend the United States



Forty percent. That's the average number of Democrat voters in the country. Coincident ? Well, Republican voters is also said to be 40% of the voters.

Let's see. Which party has co-opted the school system and spews the propaganda that we have always and still are racist ? Sexist ? That we were founded and still engage in White privilege ?

Which party is hell bent on erasing their history of racism, tearing down statues of all their heroes who engaged in that ?

Which party's representative said America was never that great ? New York Governor Andrew Cuomo !

Here is a hero who did want to defend America. He was 70 years old and when America was at war, he grabbed his gun and went to defend America. Only to be denied the opportunity because he was too old.

When the enemy was on on the verge of winning, deep in American territory, he did not ask permission. He grabbed his gun and went to the front lines. Intercepted by officers, told to go home, he refused. They gave him a modern gun and some ammo and let him fight. He was wounded, treated and told to go home. He went back to the front lines, eventually being wounded two more times.

My link does not exactly describe what I wrote, but I knew of his patriotism and believe what I posted is true.

John Burns

[This message has been edited by cliffw (edited 05-13-2022).]