Stepan Tarabalka
Birth nameStepan Ivanovych Tarabalka
Born(1993-01-09)9 January 1993
Korolivka, Kolomyia Raion, Ukraine
Died13 March 2022(2022-03-13) (aged 29)
Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine[1]
Allegiance Ukraine
Service/branch Ukrainian Air Force
Years of service2014–2022
RankMajor
Battles/wars
AwardsHero of Ukraine Order of the Gold Star (posthumously)
Spouse(s)Olenia

Stepan Ivanovych Tarabalka (Ukrainian: Степан Іванович Тарабалка; 9 January 1993 – 13 March 2022), in English media also referred to as Stephen Tarabalka, was a Ukrainian military officer, a pilot and a major in the Ukrainian Air Force. He served during the Russo-Ukrainian War, including the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Early life and education

Tarabalka was born on 9 January 1993 in Korolivka, Kolomyia Raion, Ukraine, where he grew up as part of a poor family. His family regularly worked in Portugal, where they could earn a better living, but returned to Ukraine frequently. He lived near a military base, and constantly saw military aircraft landing nearby, which inspired him from an early age to become a pilot. Tarabalka supported himself through military school and then flight school,[2] studying at Kharkiv National University of the Air Force[3] and graduating in 2014.[4]

Career

Tarabalka piloted a Ukrainian MiG-29, as depicted

The initial conflict in 2014, involving Russian annexation of Crimea and conflict in the east of Ukraine with two secessionist states, was Tarabalka's first experience in combat. This saw him gain experience flying support missions over the Donbas region.[2]

Tarabalka was shot down on 13 March 2022[5][6] in the sky over Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine,[1] while he was piloting a MiG-29 facing a dogfight against several Russian fighter jets.[7][8] International media speculated whether the so-called "Ghost of Kyiv" and Tarabalka were in fact the same person, or whether the Ghost legend was simply made up[9] and then applied to Tarabalka after his death, when his success against the Russian Air Force was known.[7] However, an interview was published in April 2022 with a pilot discussing the Ghost (who was a member of his unit) before his identity was released. In the interview, the pilot indicated details that match Tarabalka as the Ghost, including the fact he flew a MiG-29 and was 29 years old.[8]

According to the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Tarabalka was not the "Ghost of Kyiv". The total amount of 40 aircraft shot down was done together by the pilots of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade.[10] Other sources, including the New York Post and the BBC, indicated that Tarabalka himself had shot down the 40 aircraft.[11]

Death

Tarabalka was killed in action on 13 March 2022, at the age of 29,[12] with rumours at the time raising suspicion he was the mysterious Ghost figure.[4] According to Ukrainian sources, he died while on a mission, outnumbered in a dogfight.[7] Tarabalka was buried in a cemetery in Korolivka, near Kolomyia.[2][13] The Ukrainian Government planned to auction his helmet and gloves to raise funds for the ongoing conflict.[3] It posthumously awarded him Ukraine's top award for bravery,[3] the Order of the Golden Star, with the title Hero of Ukraine.[11][14]

Personal life

Tarabalka was married and had an 8-year-old son at the time of his death.[11][15]

References

  1. 1 2 "Тарабалка, Степан Іванович". Great Ukrainian Encyclopedia (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "One Ukrainian family grieves the loss of their fighter pilot son". NPR.org. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Raj, Rohit (30 April 2022). "Russia-Ukraine War: 'Ghost of Kyiv' killed, this is how Russia was harassed". The Indian Nation. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  4. 1 2 Mazur, Ivan (24 March 2022). "Who is Stepan Tarabalka and is he really the Ghost of Kyiv". Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  5. ↑ Brown, Larisa (29 April 2022). "'Ghost of Kyiv' who shot down more than 40 Russian aircraft dies in battle". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "Ghost of Kyiv Major Stepan Tarabalka hailed a hero as pilot dies in battle". HITC. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 India Today Web Desk New Delhi (30 April 2022). "'Ghost of Kyiv' war hero dies in battle after shooting down 40 Russian aircraft". Heroes Of Ukraine. India Today. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  8. 1 2 Newdick, Thomas (1 April 2022). "Ukrainian MiG-29 Pilot's Front-Line Account Of The Air War Against Russia". The Drive. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  9. ↑ Novelly, Thomas (2 March 2022). "Ukraine's Fighter Ace 'Ghost of Kyiv' May Be a Myth, But It's Lethal as War Morale". Military.com. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  10. ↑ "ПРОСИМО НЕ НАПОВНЮВАТИ ІНФОПРОСТІР ФЕЙКАМИ" [Please do not fill Infospace with Fakes]. Telegram Channel of the Air Force Command of the UA Armed Forces (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 Brown, Lee (29 April 2022). "'Ghost of Kyiv' killed in battle, identity revealed". News. New York Post. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "Identity of Legendary Ukrainian Pilot 'Ghost of Kyiv' Revealed by Ukrainian Media". Kyiv Post. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  13. ↑ "Remembering Ukrainian fighter pilot Stepan Tarabalka". WBUR-FM. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  14. ↑ ""Ghost Of Kyiv" Dies In Battle After Shooting Down 40 Russian Jets, Identity Revealed". NDTV. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  15. ↑ "Fighter pilot 'Ghost of Kyiv' reportedly killed last month and identified as father of one". i. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
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