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Is that the 'Ghost of Kyiv'? Ukraine shares image of MiG-29 pilot who is ‘coming for Russia’s soul’

Ukrainian fighter pilot reportedly responsible for downing 10 Russian jets snapped by Ukraine's defense force's general staff in a new picture

For weeks now, Ukraine has been defiantly holding off Russia's invasion through a combination of grit, innovation, and bravery. Perhaps nothing captures this spirit better than 'The Ghost of Kyiv', allegedly a Ukrainian fighter pilot who is believed to have downed at least 10 Russian jets since the invasion began.  

The fighter pilot isn't the only Ukrainian legend to come out of the war. On March 10, two explosive specialists were filmed diffusing a bomb using their bare hands and a bottle of water. On February 24, soldiers on Snake Island went viral for telling a Russian warship to "go f--k yourself". Perhaps the most iconic legend though is none other than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy, who has defiantly refused to leave Kyiv despite the war. 

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While many of Ukraine's heroes have struck fear in the Russian military, it appears few have been as effective as the Ghost of Kyiv. The mysterious pilot is reportedly Europe's first fighter ace since World War 2, but little else is known about him. He's also made very few public appearances, with his latest coming on March 11 thanks to the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces.

Ghost of Kyiv snapped

The real identity of the pilot is a mystery and has never been confirmed. Some users on social media identified him as Vladmir Abdonov, but that was never confirmed by any official sources. Nonetheless, he's become a symbol for not just Kyiv, but Ukraine as a whole. The pilot was first snapped on February 25, by former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who tweeted, "In the photo - the MiG-29 pilot. The same "Ghost of Kiev". It terrifies enemies and pride Ukrainians. He has 6 victories over Russian pilots! With such powerful defenders, Ukraine will definitely win!"

The existence of the pilot is something of a controversy at the moment. While Ukrainians like Poroshenko have claimed he is real, fact-checking website Snopes confirmed that footage of him in action is actually footage from the video game Digital Combat Simulator. It begs the question — is he real? We know that as of March 10, the Russians have lost at least 11 airplanes and 11 helicopters, but it is unclear how many of those were shot down by anti-aircraft missiles and how many by fighter pilots. 

Ukraine still has several planes, despite Russia's best efforts to bomb Ukraine's military airfields and Air Force buildings. Given that information, there's not much clarity on who exactly is responsible for downing the Russian jets. Nonetheless, it seems Ukrainians have put a lot of faith in the Ghost of Kyiv, and continue to promote him as more than just an urban myth.

The pilot was snapped again on March 11, in a photo released by the general staff. It shows the pilot in the cockpit of a MiG-29 fighter jet, with his face hidden behind a helmet, visor, and oxygen mask. The New Voice of Ukraine, an English-language news resource tweeted, "The legendary Ukrainian pilot, known as "The Ghost of Kyiv" sends a message to the Russian invaders: "Hello, Russian non-human, I am flying for your soul." Other tweets translate the statement as "Hello occupiers. I’m coming for your soul".

Whether or not the pilot in the image has really shot down 10 Russian jets, one thing is for sure — Russian can expect more losses. Despite slow gains in the south and east, Ukraine refuses to fall easily, causing anxiety to Vladimir Putin. Certainly, the urban legends will continue to grow, as more and more footage makes it way out of Ukraine.