It was just several weeks ago we wrote about the famed Ghost of Kyiv, a Ukrainian fighter pilot who became the first modern day ace. The pilot was heavily hyped in the news and on social media as he became the face of the Ukraine fight early in the conflict. On April 29th, 2022 it was announced by The Times of London that the Ghost of Kyiv, identity revealed to be Major Stephan Tarabalka, was killed in combat on March 13th. Tarabalka was 29-years old when his plane was shot down over Ukraine, he was posthumously awarded with the title Hero of Ukraine by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It is Ukraine’s top medal that could be awarded.
Stephan Tarabalka has been credited with shooting down 40 Russian aircraft, making him one of the highest aces in history. Tarabalka is amongst fellow 40 aces of World War One Lothar von Richthofen, Phillip F. Fullard, Franz Buchner and Oswald Boelcke and World War Two 40 aces Gunter Steinhausen, Hermann Neuhoff, Woff-Dietrich Huy, Richard I. Bong and Wilhem Balthasar.