Active	1992 – present
Country	Ukraine
Allegiance	Armed Forces of Ukraine
Branch	Ukrainian Air Force
Type	Fighter aircraft
Size	Brigade
Part of	Air Command Center
Garrison/HQ	Vasylkiv Air Base
Nickname	Ghost of Kyiv
Engagements	War in Donbas Battle of Debaltseve Russian invasion of Ukraine Battle of Kyiv (2022) Snake Island campaign
Decorations	For Courage and Bravery
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Volodymyr Kravchenko
Insignia
Former Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aviation branch insignia collar
Aircraft flown
Fighter	MiG-29, MiG-29UB, MiG-29M1
Trainer	L39M1

The 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade "Ghost of Kyiv" (Military Unit Number А1789) is a formation of the Ukrainian Air Force, composed primarily of Mikoyan MiG-29 aircraft, that is based at Vasylkiv.^[1]

In January 1992 the regiment took the oath of loyalty to the Ukrainian people.

Upon the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade played an important role in the Kyiv offensive. Its fighter aircraft battled the Russian Air Force over Kyiv and attempted to disrupt Russian advances on the ground. The unit took part in the Battle of Antonov Airport and the Battle of Kyiv; one of its pilots, Lt. Col. Vyacheslav Yerko (posthumously Hero of Ukraine, Gold Star Order), reportedly shot down four Russian aircraft on the invasion's first day before being killed.^[2] The brigade was given the honorary title "Ghost of Kyiv" in 2024 by a decree issued by President Zelenskyy.^[3]

• MiG-29, MiG-29UB, MiG-29M1
• L39M1

At the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, 18-21 MiG-29s units were reported in operational status among Ukrainian Brigades.^[4] Along with the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade, the 204th and 114th Brigades of the Ukrainian Air Force operates MiG-29. It was reported during the Russian invasion of Ukraine that brigades shared pilots and airframes.

Here is a list of all reported operational aircraft since the 2022 conflict and their fates during the conflict.

Vasylkiv
Vasylkiv, Kyiv Oblast in Ukraine
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	Ukrainian Air Force
Controlled by	Air Command Central
Location
Vasylkiv Vasylkiv (Ukraine) Show map of Kyiv OblastShow map of UkraineShow both
Coordinates	50°14′0″N 030°18′0″E
Site history
Built	1938 (commissioned)
Fate	working
Battles/wars	2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Airfield information
Identifiers	ICAO: UKKW
Elevation	205 metres (673 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 13/31 2,465 metres (8,087 ft) Concrete

Vasylkiv (also Vasyl'kiv) was an air base of the Ukrainian Air Force located near Vasylkiv, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine. The base was home to the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade.

^[1]

On the beginning of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, the airfield was host to the 36th Fighter Aviation Division of the Air Defence Forces, comprising the 2nd, 43rd, 254th, and 255th Fighter Aviation Regiments.^[2]

Units stationed at Vasylkiv included the 146th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (146 Gv IAP) flying 41 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25PD aircraft.^[3] The regiment arrived at the base in 1950. The regiment was subordinate to the 19th Air Defence Division, which was reorganised as the 49th Air Defence Corps in June 1989. Both formations were part of the 8th Air Defence Army. The regiment was taken over by Ukraine on 1 June 1992 and then disbanded 1 June 1993.^[4]

The 92nd Red Banner Fighter Aviation Regiment arrived from Mukachevo (air base) in 1993, and was briefly stationed at the base before disbanding in 1994. The regiment was flying Mikoyan MiG-29s at the time.^[5]

The air base was the focus of fighting during the Battle of Vasylkiv, part of the Kyiv offensive in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. It was damaged on 12 March 2022 along with its airstrip after Russian missile strikes.^[6]