‘Hero’ Russian military pilot who flew Mi-8 helicopter over the front lines to seek asylum in Ukraine is ‘found dead in Spain’ months after death threat

Written by Will Stewart, Elena Salvoni, Gerald Cousins

February 19, 2024 19:16, Updated February 19, 2024 21:09

• Captain Maxim Kuzminov, 28, fled Russia with the help of Ukrainian intelligence services.
• This comes after Spanish police announced last week that a 33-year-old Ukrainian man had been shot dead.

A “heroic” Russian military pilot who flew an Mi-8 helicopter over the front lines to seek asylum in Ukraine has been found dead in Spain, with reports in Moscow saying his body was “riddled with bullets”.

Captain Maxim Kuzminov, 28, fled Russia with the help of Ukrainian intelligence and accused President Vladimir Putin of “genocide” after his daring escape last summer.

Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency confirmed today that a pilot known to be a target of Russian death squads has died in Spain, but did not provide further details about the circumstances surrounding his death.

This comes after Spanish authorities said a 33-year-old Ukrainian man was shot dead inside a garage in Villajoyosa, near Alicante, on Tuesday afternoon.

Investigators said the man had sustained more than a dozen gunshot wounds. A burnt-out car believed to have been involved in the shooting was later found nearby.

Almost a week later, a sudden flurry of reports from Russian state media and pro-Putin media strongly suggested that Kuzminov was the victim of the Spanish shootings.

Following the report, Spanish law enforcement authorities announced today that they are investigating whether the victim, whose name has not been released, may have been using a false identity.

In Russia, it is claimed that Kuzminov, who was branded a traitor in his homeland, has maintained contact with people from his past life, which may have led Russians to him.

“Maksim Kuzminov, the pilot who hijacked a Russian military helicopter in 2023, has been found dead in Spain, multiple Spanish military news agencies have reported,” state news agency TASS reported.

Mash, another Kremlin-following news outlet, said there were reports that “Maxim Kuzminov’s body was seen by local residents on February 13. It was riddled with bullets.”

The paper also claimed that the defectors were “behaving inappropriately, screaming and constantly talking drunkenly about their past and present lives.”

“Maxim Kuzminov, the pilot who hijacked a Russian military helicopter, has been found dead in Spain,” the pro-Putin news outlet Shot reported. They shot him 12 times and then ran him over with their car. ”

He later revised the report to say that he was “allegedly found dead.”

Russian media also piles blame on Ukraine for the defectors’ deaths, without providing any evidence.

TASS claimed that “Ukrainian intelligence services could have been eliminated.” [Kuzimov] as an inconvenient witness. ”

In October, shortly after his dramatic defection, there were public death threats against Kuzminov in Russia, with suggestions that Putin’s secret services might find and kill him in the ultimate betrayal.

Anonymous Spetsnaz special forces officers from Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency appeared on Moscow state television last year to say that an “order” had been issued to liquidate Kuzminov.

In a chilling broadcast, state-run Russia 1 channel Vesti Nederi told viewers: [to kill Captain Kuzminov] It has been accepted, but its execution is only a matter of time. ”

“We will find the man and punish him to the fullest extent of our laws for betraying our brother,” one Spetsnaz officer said.

The second officer said, “He won’t survive…”

Mr Kuzminov’s wife and family are believed to have been taken from Russia before his defection. It is unclear why he was in Spain.

In Spain, a spokesman for the Civil Guard announced today that “last Tuesday in Villajoyosa a man appeared to have died after being shot in several places.”

“During the ongoing investigation, it has been determined that the identity the individual was using was false and may belong to another person.

“Private security is still trying to confirm this.”

After his defection, Kuzminov encouraged other Russians to follow his example and seek asylum in Ukraine, infuriating the Kremlin.

He was also accused of being responsible for the deaths of two crew members who died during the defection.

After his exile, Kuzminov became a trophy of Ukrainian propaganda.

He said there were no Nazis in Ukraine (a usual claim by Putin) and accused the dictator of waging a war that resulted in “genocide” of both Ukrainians and Russians.

In a documentary about his daring escape and surrender, he said: “He found himself near the border.”

“So I gave my location and said let’s give it a try…I made the final decision…I flew super low on radio silent mode…”

He said: ‘[I defected because] I’m very angry about what’s happening now.

“Murder, tears, blood. Just people killing each other…

“What is happening now is nothing more than a massacre of the people of Ukraine, both Ukrainians and Russians.

“The basis of my actions is not to be complicit in these crimes.”

In an interview broadcast by Ukrainian authorities, Kuzimov said: “I contacted a representative of the Ukrainian intelligence service, explained my situation, and they said, “Well, we guarantee your safety and we will give you a new “We proposed the option of guaranteeing documentation and guaranteeing financial compensation and remuneration.” ‘

He was reportedly promised £400,000 to defect to Ukraine with Russian military equipment.