[ad_1]
The “Ghost of Kiev” has become a popular figure throughout Ukraine. But does the “Ghost of Kiev” really exist?
DW has conducted an analysis of the facts.
It is a story that gives courage and hope to the people of Ukraine in these dark days : military there are made a fierce fight ANTI- Russian occupation and a very extraordinary combat pilot has turned into a popular hero.
Known only as the “Ghost of Kiev”, it is said to have shot down only six Russian planes since the beginning of the occupation.
The story has spread mainly through social media, with videos and photos of the pilot in action, posted by Kiev residents, former President Petro Poroshenko and the Ministry of Defense.
In a widely circulated video, the Ghost of Kiev chases a Russian plane and then shoots it from the sky. In Ukrainian, a voice says: “There is a plane. There is another. It’s ready to fall. ”
#BREAKING
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. #Ukraine #RussiaInvadesUkraine # worldwar3 #WorldWarIII #WWIII pic.twitter.com/MWGRfhnexB– Ukrainelive (@ Ukrainelive5) February 25, 2022
This is a sequence from the Digital Combat Simulator World video game. “This image is from DCS, but it was made out of respect for the ‘Ghost of Kiev’.Writes the person who uploaded the video to YouTube on February 24, using a transmitter for the Ukrainian capital.
“If it is true, may God be with him; if he is false, please pray for more like him.
A spokesperson for Digital Combat Simulator World has confirmed to the Reuters news agency that the material is really out of the game.
Old, changed photos
Poroshenko, the president from 2014 to 2019, posted a photo of a pilot in a helmet in a cabin on Twitter, identifying the person as the Ghost of Kiev.
“Defender so strong” wrote Poroshenko, ““Ukraine will definitely win!”
On the photo – pilot MZG-29. He himself “Apparently Kiev”.
Він викликає жах у ворогів та гордість в українців 🇺🇦
Na гоogo rahunku 6 peremog nad rosійkimi pilotami!
З такими поужними захисниками Україна торем переможе! pic.twitter.com/GJLpcJ31Si
– Петро Порошенко (@poroshenko) February 25, 2022
That photo was posted almost three years ago by the Ministry of Defense. The pilot in the photo is doing a test flight with a new helmet. So even if this is actually the mysterious pilot, the picture is old.
The name Vladimir Abdonov is making the rounds of the world and there are also various photos claiming to be him.
Some of the photos do not appear to be original. The fact that the following image has been altered may be indicated for example by noise analysis with an image processing program.
When images are being changed, this often leaves visible traces in the noise. In this case, it can be seen on the pilot’s head, the signs on the wing and the Ukrainian flag in the background.
In the search for the image it is confirmed that it is fake. The same photo appeared online years ago, but with a different head, another badge on the arm and no flag in the background.
If you look closely at the plane behind the pilot, you can see a gray maple leaf – a symbol used by the Royal Canadian Air Force. This was apparently missing when the photo was manipulated and shows that it most likely is a photo from Canada.
The same tools can be used to indicate that the head has been changed in this photo.
The original image was deployed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine . It shows the fallen sailor Vitaliy Skaku, who was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy .
Skakun is said to have blown up a bridge risking his life to stop the advance of a convoy of Russian tanks.
It’s the face of a lawyer from Buenos Aires, who is now having fun with his new hero status and has posted on Twitter.
Asi recibieron al phantasma de Kiev al llegar a la base 🙄 pic.twitter.com/TtnlXPr4TT
– ABDON 🇺🇦 (@AlberdianoArg) February 26, 2022
How capable is Ukraine’s air defense?
So far, the existence of a Ukrainian fighter pilot who shot down six Russian planes can not be confirmed.
On Thursday, the first day of the invasion, the Ukrainian army announced that five Russian planes and a helicopter had been shot down. On the same day, Russia announced that it had deactivated air defense and air bases in Ukraine.
What is certain is that many of the videos and photos that claim to show the mysterious pilot are fake.
The Ministry of Defense posted on Twitter on Friday: “Dozens of experienced military pilots, from captains to generals are returning to the Air Force. “Who knows, maybe one of them is the pilot of the MiG-29, which is so often seen by the people of Kiev!”
The ministry has not yet responded to DW’s questions about the pilot’s identity.
top channel
[ad_2]
Source link
