Maxim Kuzminov, a Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine in August 2023, was found shot dead in Spain, Ukraiska Pravda and other Ukrainian media reported, citing the Ukrainian military intelligence service. .
The pilot was killed in Spain on February 19, just six months after landing in Kharkov, Ukraine, aboard a Russian Mi-8 helicopter, according to the intelligence service. His defection is said to be the result of a months-long special operation by Ukrainian military intelligence.
At the time, Kuzminov was on a regular flight transporting spare parts for Russian Su-27 and Su-30 fighter jets between two Russian air bases.
His family was removed from Russia in advance before his defection. The Mi-8 remains in Ukraine, along with fighter jet parts that were supposed to be delivered to Russian air bases.
According to official law, the law signed by the President of Ukraine in April 2022 provides for adequate compensation for Russian military personnel who defected to Ukraine with their equipment. As a result, Kuzminov received a prize of $ 500,000.
Kuzminov was the first Russian military member to take advantage of Ukraine’s “I Want to Live” program, which teaches Russian soldiers how to safely surrender and avoid death in war.
Also read: