Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, an image of a woman in uniform has gone viral on social media platforms claiming that Ukraine’s first female combat pilot died during the ongoing war.
A Facebook user shared the image with the caption, “Natasha Perakov, 29 years old, the first female Ukrainian fighter pilot died in combat during the Russian invasion of Ukraine today. Also, sad to report the “Ghost of Kviv” pilot is missing in action.”
The image is also doing rounds on Twitter with the same claim.
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the viral claim and found it to be false.
On performing Reverse Image Search, we found the same image carried in an article on the Ukrainian Defense Ministry website on October 12, 2016. According to the report, the woman is Olesya Vorobey. Back in 2016, a beauty contest was organized for women serving in the Ukrainian military and law enforcement in Starobilsk, Ukraine. Vorobey represented the Ukrainian armed forces in the contest and was the winner of a contest.
On further checking, we found a report by Los Angles Times according to which, Nadiya Savchenko is Ukraine’s first female combat pilot. Savchenko has stepped into politics and is now a Member of Parliament.
Savchenko hasn’t died in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war as her latest videos, where she talks about the war can be seen on her Facebook page.
Moreover, we did not find any credible report substantiating the viral claim.
Hence, with the above information, it can be concluded that the viral claim is false.
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