Ghost of Kyiv

One of the most compelling aviation-related news stories of the year was only slightly less compelling when it became clear that it wasn't true. The Ghost of Kyiv was the nickname given by Ukrainians to a fighter pilot flying courageously to stave off Russian fighters that were attacking the capital city of Kyiv during the early days of an unprovoked invasion by Russia. Stories abounded of the fighter pilot's exploits, and grainy footage of an aerial dogfight emerged, but none of it was true, at least in the literal sense. Still, the myth of the Ghost of Kyiv provided Ukrainians a much-needed boost in morale in a war their aggressors figured would be quickly over but wound up showcasing Ukraine's fierce spirit of independence.