A Russian pilot who deserted last August to surrender to the Ukrainian Army with the helicopter he was piloting has been found dead in Spain, according to the Ukrainian media Kyiv Post reported this Monday.
According to other Russian media, he was murdered in the Alicante town of Vila Joiosa.
The death of the pilot has been confirmed by the representative of the Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR), Andri Yusov, who told the media that the fact of death can be “confirmed”, although he did not mention the place where Maxim was found dead. Kuzminov, 28 years old.
A GUR source told another Ukrainian media outlet, Ukrainska Pravda, that the pilot was shot dead. According to that same source, a burned-out car was found near his home that could have been used by the murderers. Kuzminov had decided to go live in Spain instead of staying in Ukraine, according to the aforementioned GUR source.
It so happens that on February 14, several Valencian media outlets reported the shooting murder the previous afternoon of a man in an urbanization in Vila Joiosa, although at first they spoke of a 33-year-old Ukrainian man. However, it could be the same case. The Civil Guard has already opened an investigation to clarify the identity of the victim.
Maxim Kuzminov’s defection became known in September last year when the Ukrainian GUR published images in which the pilot – who was then 28 years old – explained how he was contacted by enemy military intelligence, who offered him to join the Ukrainian side. in exchange for money and protection.
In the video you can see Kuzminov landing with his helicopter, a Mi-8 fighter, at a military base in the Kharkiv region, in eastern Ukraine and bordering Russia.
As reported at the time by the head of the Ukrainian GUR, Kirilo Budánov, Kuzminov crossed the border flying below the radar detection area along with other crew members who were unaware of the pilot’s plans and died when they tried to flee after the landing.
Budanov also explained then that Ukrainian military intelligence had managed to get the defecting pilot’s family out of Russia.
