The death of the much-publicized enigmatic pilot was reported by the Times of London, which for the first time publicly recognized Major Stepan Tarabalka, a 29-year-old father of one child, as a war hero. Tarabalka was believed to have hijacked up to 40 Russian aircraft before being shot down on March 13 while battling an “overwhelming” number of enemy forces, the British newspaper reported. Tarabalka was posthumously honored with Ukraine’s top medal for bravery in battle, the Gold Star Order, with the title of Hero of Ukraine, according to his family. His helmet and glasses – all that appeared to him when Ukrainian officials promoted his heroism – will now be auctioned off in London, sources told the UK Times confirming Tarabalka’s identity. The “Ghost of Kiev” has been identified as Major Stepan Tarabalka. Tarabalka became a mysterious legend when the Ukrainian government attributed to the then anonymous pilot that it shot down six Russian aircraft on the first day of the war. “People call him the Ghost of Kiev. “And rightly so,” the official tweet said, adding that “it had already become a nightmare for the invasion of Russian aircraft.” The General Staff of Ukraine later published another photo of the fighter ace pilot in the cockpit of the MiG-29 aircraft with his face covered, with the caption: “Hello, holder, I come for your soul!”. Many people questioned whether the “Ghost” was true, as his identity remained a mystery – apparently even to his grieving family when he was informed of the death of their loved one last month. His parents, Nahtalia and Evon Tarabalka, were interviewed by NPR shortly after his death – and did not mention his secret status or hint that they knew what missions he had. “We know he was on a mission. And he completed the mission, his work. Then he did not return. “This is all the information we have,” his father told the agency. “Since he was a child, he has always dreamed of the sky,” his mother told NPR.Twitter/@yirmiucderece “We know he was flying on a mission,” his parents said of his death. Twitter / @ intel1osint100 Tarabalka’s parents explained how their son’s life dream was to become a fighter pilot while growing up next to a military airport in the village of Korolivka. “Since he was a child, he always dreamed of the sky, to fly higher than the clouds,” his mother told NPR through a translator. Tarabalka leaves behind a wife and a young son. “He always watched the paratroopers in their air exercises. “And he was running in their direction to try to see where they landed,” Nahtalia said. His parents said they were surprised when he made his dream come true, even though he had no military connections. “Becoming a pilot was his own effort. He did it all himself. “I just helped with the prayers,” said his mother. They confirmed that Tarabalka – who leaves behind a wife, Olenia, and 8-year-old son, Yarik – was honored with the Golden Star, with the title of Hero of Ukraine. “Of course, he had already won this award when he was with us,” his father told NPR. “But we hope he could get the honor after the war. I wish he was still alive. “
