A photo has been shared by Ukraine forces purporting to show the ‘Ghost of Kyiv’, a mystery pilot who allegedly single-handedly took down 10 Russian military aircraft.
The unknown fighter has become a heroic urban legend since February when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered for the invasion of Ukraine.
CNN reported on 24 February that the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army had confirmed five fighter jets and one helicopter had been shot down, although the Russian military denied the claims.
No one has been able to identify whether the rumours are real, and while the latest image hasn’t been independently verified either, it has fuelled people’s belief that the Ghost of Kyiv exists.
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The picture was shared yesterday (11 March) on Facebook by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
It shows an unknown pilot donning a visor and oxygen mask in the cockpit of a MiG-29 fighter jet, holding his hand up to demonstrate the missiles attached to the plane’s wings.
As well as ‘Ghost of Kyiv’ written over the photo, it’s been captioned with the words: "Hello, occupier, I’m coming for your soul!”
The post has received over 42,000 likes, 7700 shares and hundreds of comments offering their support to Ukraine.
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Although the legitimacy of the ‘Ghost of Kyiv’ is still up for debate, one person commented the following: “They tell us that The Ghost of Kyiv is an urban legend. But his fighting spirit is real and it lives within the brave pilots of the Ukrainian Air Force.
“Every Ukrainian pilot is the Ghost of Kyiv.”
Last month, viral footage purporting to show the pilot in action did the rounds, with one post on Twitter sharing the clip while writing: "Crazy footage of a MiG-29 of the Ukrainian Air Force shooting down a Su-35 fighter jet of #Russia’s Air Force over Ukraine’s capital #Kyiv today.
“Likely using the R-73 infrared homing missile."
However, it's since been revealed that the footage is from Digital Combat Simulator World.
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The creator of the combat flight simulator has confirmed to Reuters that the clips that have been widely shared on social media are from their game.
The simulator is made by Eagle Dynamics, and Matthias Techmanski, a spokesperson for the company, told the news outlet: “We are not responsible for its distribution, nor do we endorse such content."
According to DW, a person uploaded footage from the simulator to YouTube on 24 February and never claimed that it was the real deal.
But that hasn't stopped people continuing to promote the story of 'The Ghost of Kyiv' as the war rages on.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.
Topics: Ukraine, Russia, World News, Army
Daisy Phillipson