Russian pilot, who flew Mi-8 helicopter to Ukraine, found dead in Spain — DIU
A Russian pilot, Maxim Kuzminov, who had flown a Mi—8 helicopter to Ukraine during the Ukrainian intelligence operation Synytsia, was found dead in Spain.
Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, told hromadske.
“We confirm the fact of death,” the intelligence representative said in response to rumors about Kuzminov's death, which were spread with reference to the Spanish media. Yusov did not provide any other details.
According to Ukrainska Pravda's intelligence sources, the Russian pilot was found shot dead, and a burnt-out car, in which the killers allegedly fled, was found nearby.
Earlier today, on February 19, Russian propaganda and some Ukrainian media outlets disseminated information about the death of the Russian military. In particular, the media referred to an Il-corrispondente article titled "Traitors don't live long" and a publication from Informacion.
These and other sources identified the deceased as a Ukrainian, who was 33 years old. However, Kuzminov was 28 years old at the time of the helicopter hijacking operation.
About the operation
At the end of August 2023, a Russian Mi-8 helicopter with a crew landed at an airfield in Ukraine. There, the pilot surrendered to the Ukrainian military. Sources of Ukrainska Pravda in the special services claim that the Mi-8 landed in the Kharkiv region.
According to UP, there were two crew members on board with the pilot who did not know where the helicopter was actually going. They were killed, and the pilot and his family were in Ukraine (the family was taken out of Russia in advance).
According to Censor.NET's sources, the helicopter remained completely intact and will join the Ukrainian Air Force after its equipment is examined in detail.
The Chief of the Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said that such an operation conducted by his agency was "the first successful one in the history of Ukraine."
- Share: