One of Kyiv's "Ghosts," MiG-29 pilot Marat Mambetov, was killed in action

On October 1, 2026, while carrying out a combat mission on one of the front lines, Captain Marat Mambetov, the flight leader of the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade “Ghost of Kyiv,” was killed in action.

The Ukrainian pilot, flying a MiG-29 fighter jet, was carrying out missile and bomb strikes against Russian occupiers. During the mission, the aircraft was hit by an enemy missile; the pilot ejected but did not survive.

Source: Ukrainian Air Force Command.

On August 28, 2025, a funeral service was held in Kropyvnytskyi for the fallen MiG-29 fighter pilot, Major Serhiy Bondar. He served in the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade “Ghost of Kyiv” and was the deputy squadron commander. 

A funeral service for Ukrainian MiG-29 pilot Maksym Ustymenko was held at St. Michael’s Cathedral and on Independence Square. He was one of those known as the “Ghost of Kyiv” and died while repelling a massive Russian missile and drone attack.