What is the Ghost of Kyiv?

In the early days of the war, in March 2022, Ukrainian social media buzzed with reports about the “Ghost of Kyiv”—a pilot who was said to have repeatedly engaged in battles against vastly superior Russian air forces. According to the claims, he single-handedly shot down dozens of enemy aircraft.

The image of the “Ghost of Kyiv”—a mythical ace pilot supposedly downing Russian planes by the dozens during the initial days of the full-scale invasion—was actually created by the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ press service as a countermeasure against Russian propaganda at the time.

The goal was to craft a symbol of vengeance, a folk hero, an ace who relentlessly destroyed the enemy. Many striking videos circulated online showing the Ukrainian Air Force engaging in dogfights and shooting down enemy aircraft.

In an interview with Укрінформ, Ground Forces spokesperson Illia Yevlash explained that the persona of the ‘Ghost of Kyiv’ fit perfectly into this narrative.

Our team came up with the ‘Ghost of Kyiv,’” Yevlash recalled, I was in the room at the time, in early February, just as the full-scale invasion was unfolding. It was then that Serhiy Volodymyrovych Cherevaty suggested creating the image of a vengeful hero, someone who embodied an ace pilot capable of taking down enemy aircraft. There were a lot of great videos at the time of our Air Force, our tactical aviation, hitting and downing planes. During a brainstorming session, I believe it was Volodymyr Volodymyrovych Fitio who proposed calling him the ‘Ghost of Kyiv.’ Everyone agreed, and it quickly caught on. News outlets picked it up, the National Marathon featured it, and it spread rapidly. By the third or fourth mention, the ‘Ghost of Kyiv’ had taken on a life of its own. The main goal was to strike the enemy and demoralize, destabilize them through every possible and impossible channel and means.

Was the Ghost of Kyiv real?

In reality, the figure behind the Ghost of Kyiv is the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade. Within the first 30 hours of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the brigade achieved six aerial victories in the skies over Kyiv. By securing control of the capital’s airspace and forcing enemy aircraft to retreat, these defenders not only won the battle for Kyiv but also took on critical air defence and combat missions across every strategic direction of the war.

Today, thousands of men and women from the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Air Command “Center” are carrying out missions in the hottest zones of Ukraine’s defence. Five of the brigade’s pilots are Heroes of Ukraine, though tragically, four were honoured posthumously.

On August 23, 2024 — the eve of Ukraine’s 33rd Independence Day — the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force was officially awarded the honorary title “Ghost of Kyiv,” as decreed by Presidential Order №531/2024. President Volodymyr Zelensky personally presented the brigade with a ceremonial ribbon for their battle flag during a solemn ceremony held at Kyiv’s historic St. Sophia Square.

The 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade and Its achievements

Lieutenant Colonel Vyacheslav Yerko

Lieutenant Colonel Vyacheslav Yerko lost his life in an air battle over the Kyiv region on February 24, 2022, becoming one of the first to engage with enemy aircraft. He dreamed of the skies from childhood and graduated from the Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University in Kharkiv.

He served in Vasylkiv with the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade, flying MiG-29 fighters. On the first day of the war, he completed four combat sorties, covering the withdrawal of Ukrainian aircraft to safety and preventing enemy strikes on ground targets.

During the battles, he shot down an enemy Su-25 and several Mi-24 helicopters but was eventually downed himself. Vyacheslav was ejected, but Russian soldiers damaged his parachute, and he was killed. For his actions in this battle, he was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, and on May 16, he was posthumously honoured with the title Hero of Ukraine.

Due to ongoing shelling, residents temporarily buried him near the site of his death. Later, when Ukrainian forces retook the area, his body was exhumed, and on April 9, Vyacheslav was reburied with military honors at the Alley of Glory in Vasylkiv. His wife and two daughters mourn him.

Colonel Mykhailo Matyushenko

Colonel Mykhailo Matiushenko, aged 61, known by the callsign “Did” (Grandpa) because he is the oldest fighter pilot in the Ukrainian Air Force, played a significant role in the liberation of Snake Island. In the 2000s, he headed one of Kyiv’s aviation companies. In 2014, he volunteered to go to eastern Ukraine and later became a flight instructor with one of Ukraine’s military aviation brigades. He was known for his famous line, “My falcons will turn into ghosts.”

A seasoned pilot, Matiushenko flew various types of military and civilian aircraft and served in multiple military units, passing on his invaluable expertise to the younger generation.

On June 25, he undertook a dangerous mission and struck a concentration of Russian military equipment. The following day, June 26, his aircraft destroyed a Russian Pantsir missile system but was subsequently hit by enemy air defenses. He died in combat over the Black Sea. Colonel Mykhailo Matiushenko was the commander of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade and was posthumously awarded the title Hero of Ukraine.

In October 2022, Mykhailo Matiushenko was laid to rest at the Alley of Heroes in Bucha.

Major Stepan Tarabalka

Another legendary pilot known as the “Ghost of Kyiv” was 29-year-old Major Stepan Tarabalka. Born in the village of Korolivka in the Kolomyia region, Stepan grew up in a family with no military background. His mother, Natalia, recalled how he would watch MiG jets flying over their home and, from a young age, decided that he wanted to become a fighter pilot more than anything else. Stepan independently enrolled in the Prykarpattia Military Sports Lyceum, followed by the Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University in Kharkiv.

When the full-scale war erupted, it became clear that a life of peaceful service was never in the cards. In that moment, the young officer came to fully grasp the immense responsibility — and profound importance — of the profession he had chosen.

On March 13, 2022, our hero took to the skies in an uneven battle against overwhelming enemy forces. In that fight, he disrupted the invaders’ attempt to bomb a Ukrainian city, sparing entire residential neighborhoods from destruction. Tragically, the brave pilot was killed in action over Zhytomyr, giving his life to protect countless others.

He was his parents’ only son and is survived by his wife, Olena, and their 8-year-old son, Yaroslav. Stepan Tarabalka was posthumously awarded Ukraine’s Medal “For Combat Bravery,” the Order of the Golden Star, and the title Hero of Ukraine.

Major Andriy Lyutashin

Major Andriy Lyutashyn fell on March 8, 2022, during fierce battles on the outskirts of Kyiv, as the capital endured relentless enemy attacks. At the time, he was serving as Chief of Air-Fire and Tactical Training for the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade — a role in which he helped shape and lead Ukraine’s defenders in the skies.

Originally from Mukachevo, Andriy came from a military family—his father was also a pilot with 33 years of flying experience, and his mother worked in military aviation maintenance.

He studied at the Chernihiv Military Academy, served in Uman, and trained cadets for many years as a flight instructor in Boryspil. However, in 2014, when Russia invaded Crimea and Donbas, Andriy returned to military service. He participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO), among the first to take up arms against the Russian forces.

On March 8, Andriy fought his final battle near the village of Berezivka. Piloting his combat aircraft through enemy air defense zones, he destroyed three Russian BMPs with missile strikes. Enemy missiles subsequently hit his plane, and Andriy did not have time to eject.

The comrades of the “Ghost of Kyiv,” Lyutashyn, shared his last words with his family and the nation: “Guys, we will live!” he said before steering his burning fighter jet into a column of invading forces advancing toward the capital along the Zhytomyr highway. The pilot halted the enemy’s progress toward Kyiv by completing his final mission.

47-year-old Andriy Lyutashyn was laid to rest in April at the Alley of Glory in his hometown of Mukachevo. He is survived by his parents, wife, and two sons. Posthumously, Major Andriy Lyutashyn was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine and honored with the highest military award of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Order of the Golden Star.

Andrii Pilshchykov “Juice”

Renowned Ukrainian military pilot Andriy Pilshchykov, known by his callsign “Juice,” was a MiG-29 fighter pilot who tragically lost his life on August 25, 2023, in a mid-air collision involving two aircraft in the Zhytomyr region. Two other pilots also perished in the incident. Pilshchykov served with the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade and graduated from Kharkiv’s Ivan Kozhedub National Air Force University.

During “Clear Sky 2018,” the largest aviation exercise in Ukraine’s history, held in the United States, Andriy made a noticeable impression with his decision to avoid alcohol. His American colleagues took note of his choice, and it was during these exercises that they fittingly gave him the callsign “Juice.”

In interviews with The Washington Post, Financial Times, CNN, Fox News, and BBC News, Andriy, without revealing his surname, urged Western partners to supply Ukraine with modern fighter jets. In 2022, he travelled to the United States to meet with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and American lawmakers, advocating for delivering advanced fighter jets to Ukraine.

At the onset of the war, while pushing Russian occupiers out of northern Ukraine, “Juice” was tasked with covering strike aviation. The frontline was rapidly shifting, and air defenses had to maneuver accordingly, resulting in a constantly changing and unclear picture of the surrounding situation.

According to his Ukrainian and American comrades, Andriy Pilshchykov played a significant role in providing Kyiv with fourth-generation fighter jets. His persistent advocacy and strategic engagement were key to securing this critical support.

Ironically, Andriy Pilshchykov was directly involved in creating the legend of the Ghost of Kyiv. He is the pilot depicted in the famous photograph of the Ghost of Kyiv, wearing a distinctive French helmet.

Andriy’s mother, Liliya Averyanova, writes on Facebook:

“Andriy tested a French flight helmet that was excellent for work, especially for its sound quality during radio communications. There was supposed to be an official procedure to adopt it through a research structure within the Ministry of Defense, but it never went through. After that, we tried to create a new module with updated microphones for the existing helmets, but those efforts didn’t progress either. The French helmet was returned to France, and all we were left with were these photos—one of which would go on to become a symbol of the Great Ukrainian Resistance.”

The Legacy of the Ghost of Kyiv

In 2022, the Air Command “Center” of the Ukrainian Air Force launched a joint initiative to register trademarks related to the image of the “Ghost of Kyiv” in Ukraine. On January 15, 2024, the Ukrainian National Office of Intellectual Property and Innovation (UKRNOIPI) officially registered the trademark of the legendary “Ghost of Kyiv.”

Olena Orliuk, Head of the Intellectual Property Office, presented the organization with the original certificates for five trademarks: the widely recognized image of the composite pilot figure with an upward-pointing finger, as well as brand names “Привид Києва,” “Нічний привид,” “Ghost of Kyiv,” and “Night Ghost.”

On May 5, 2022, an amateur artist, Matsuda Juko from Japan, released a manga about the “Ghost.” Later, the Ukrainian publishing house “Ranok” published a comic titled “Ghost of Kyiv” in Ukrainian.

On August 27, 2022, as Ukraine marked Aviation Day, Kyiv unveiled a mural honoring the legendary “Ghost of Kyiv” — the collective symbol of the military pilots who had defended the skies since the very first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The work was created by street artist Andriy Kovtun, who chose as his inspiration a striking photograph of pilot Andriy Pilshchykov, known by his call sign “Juice,” sitting in the cockpit of his MiG-29.

The “Ghost of Kyiv” is always seen on a mission, fulfilling its task. For the residents of the frontline capital, this figure has become the embodiment of an immortal hero, guarding the skies over the city.

What role did the Ghosts of Kyiv play in the defense of Kyiv?

The “Ghosts of Kyiv” played a crucial role in Kyiv’s defense during the Russian invasion. In the initial stages of the full-scale invasion, the enemy launched a barrage of missile strikes from all directions, targeting not just the capital but the entire air defense system.

Several radar and anti-aircraft complexes, previously identified by the invaders, were temporarily disabled. The Russian forces aimed to execute their typical strategy: conducting air raids and bombings of Kyiv without resistance, relying on their overwhelming superiority in weaponry and military equipment.

However, thanks to a coordinated set of actions from the outset of the armed aggression, our pilots from various tactical aviation brigades—our Ghosts—prevented this from happening.

Through their heroic efforts, at the cost of their own lives, they protected the skies and accomplished the near-impossible: repelling the invasion and saving the capital from destruction.

From an interview with one of the Ghosts of Kyiv with the callsign “Beekeeper”:

“The aggressor was fully aware of the capabilities of our aviation and tried to eliminate it first. There were numerous missile attacks on our aviation infrastructure and attempts to destroy our aircraft at their bases. We managed to evacuate almost all of our equipment in time, save our personnel, and quickly restore our operations.

When the enemy approached closer to Kyiv and Vasylkiv, they deployed their anti-aircraft missile systems to close off the airspace over our territory as much as possible. The airfield came within their strike range, which forced the Ghosts to perform takeoffs and landings, and withdraw from the airfield area at extremely low altitudes—about 30 meters above the ground.

And this was done both day and night. All the guys demonstrated the highest levels of flight skill and professionalism, maneuvering around the smallest obstacles at high speeds while pursuing the enemy.

This allowed us to stay out of the enemy’s detection and strike zones, but it required the utmost skill, discipline, and endurance from the pilots.

The first weeks of the all-out resistance were the hardest. All our guys were giving it their all. We had critically little time for rest and sleep, often sleeping just 2-3 hours a day. With constant flights, there was barely any time to eat properly. But none of us felt fear!

It speaks volumes that we often faced engagements with odds of 2 to 6 or even 1 to 7 against us, favoring the enemy. Yet, not a single one of us faltered. We displayed courage and professionalism, helping each other through the most difficult moments.

In the sky, once you take off, fear fades, no matter who the enemy is.

Today, my colleagues and I are confident and resolute in our decisions; we know what we are doing and whom we are doing it for…

We are defending our land, our families, and our country, which must prevail!”

Honoring Ukraine’s air force heroes

While the Ghost of Kyiv may not exist as a single individual, the bravery and dedication of Ukraine’s Air Force personnel deserve recognition. The collective efforts of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade, which defends Kyiv’s airspace, are a testament to the resilience and determination of Ukraine’s armed forces.

As Ukraine continues to modernize its air force, including the recent introduction of F-16 fighters, the legacy of pilots like Andrii “Juice” Pilshchykov lives on. These real-life heroes, who worked tirelessly to secure advanced aircraft for their country, represent the true spirit of innovation and perseverance in Ukraine’s defense.

Eternal memory and glory to all the Heroes—defenders of Ukraine!

About the author

Hello and welcome! My name is Victoria, and I’m a private tour guide in Kyiv. Since 2016, I have been offering private tours on various topics for visitors to the capital of Ukraine. I speak fluent English and love sharing stories. When not guiding, I write about Ukraine on my blog and my travel experiences and insights in Sweden and the Baltics.