Ukrainian intelligence services revealed the identity of the suspected Russian defector pilot who flew into Ukraine on a Mi8 helicopter and also released statements in which the military officer urged other Russians to follow his example.
Maksym Kuzminov, 28, of the 319th Separate Helicopter Regiment of Russian Military Aviation, appears in the documentary “Russia’s Defeated Pilots,” released Sunday evening by the Directorate of Ukrainian Military Intelligence. on your YouTube platform channel.
In the video, this Russian soldier explained his decision to take the helicopter to Ukraine as a desire not to be implicated in war crimes and called on other Russian pilots to follow his example.
Kuzminov said he contacted representatives of Ukrainian military intelligence, who guaranteed his safety, offered him new documents and financial compensation before proceeding with the operation.
This Russian made the final decision while flying near the RussianUkrainian border on August 9, piloting the helicopter over the border at extremely low altitude.
“Apparently no one for three or four days [na Rússia] “I understand what happened to me,” he emphasized.
According to the video, Kuzminov was injured after landing, but received medical attention in a timely manner.
Ukrainian intelligence confirmed today on the social network Telegram that two more crew members died after refusing to surrender.
“What is happening now is simply a genocide of the Ukrainian people, a genocide of both Ukrainians and Russians. The main reason for my decision was not to facilitate these crimes,” Kuzminov emphasized.
Ukrainian military intelligence stressed that Russian pilots who decide to switch sides will receive “legal guarantees,” including financial compensation for the military equipment handed over.
“You won’t regret it at all. They will have absolutely everything for the rest of their lives,” Kuzminov emphasized in the video to the Russian pilots.
According to the documentary, Kuzmonov “provided very valuable evidence about the enemy army’s aircraft, communications systems and airfield network.”
The pilot and his family are currently in Ukraine, Ukrainian military intelligence reported.
“Safety guarantees for the pilot’s family were an important part of the operation,” he also emphasized.
This special operation, which lasted months, required “maximum secrecy” as Russia used “unprecedented measures” to ban its pilots from any contact with “unverified” people, Ukrainian military intelligence also revealed.