By Will Stewart and Elena Salvoni and Gerard Couzens 7:16 p.m. February 19, 2024, updated 8:22 p.m. February 19, 2024
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- Captain Maksim Kuzminov, 28, fled Russia with the help of Ukrainian intelligence
- This comes after Spanish police said a 33-year-old Ukrainian man was shot last week
A “heroic” Russian military pilot who flew his Mi-8 helicopter over the front line to defect to Ukraine has been found dead in Spain. In Moscow it was reported that his body was “riddled with bullets.”
Captain Maksim Kuzminov, 28, fled Russia with the help of Ukrainian intelligence services and accused Vladimir Putin of “genocide” after his daring escape last summer.
Ukrainian military intelligence GUR confirmed today that the pilot – a known target of Russian death squads – had died in Spain, but gave no further details about the circumstances of his death.
This came after Spanish authorities said a 33-year-old Ukrainian man was shot dead in a garage in Villajoyosa, near Alicante, on Tuesday afternoon.
Sources close to the investigation said the man suffered nearly a dozen gunshot wounds. A burned-out car was subsequently found nearby, believed to be related to the shooting.
Nearly a week later, a sudden flurry of reports from state and pro-Putin media in Russia strongly suggested that Kuzminov was the victim of the Spanish shooting.
In response to the reports, investigators in Spain said today they are investigating whether the unnamed victim may have used a false identity.
Captain Maksim Kuzminov, 28, fled Russia with the help of Ukrainian intelligence services
Spanish authorities said a 33-year-old Ukrainian man was shot dead in a garage in Villajoyosa, near Alicante, on Tuesday afternoon. The Russian military pilot flew his Mi-8 helicopter over the front line to defect to Ukraine
A spokesman for the Guardia Civil said today: “On Tuesday last week in Villajoyosa a man appeared dead with multiple gunshot wounds.”
“During the ongoing investigation, it has emerged that the identity used by this individual may be false and belong to another individual.”
“The Civil Guard is still trying to confirm this.”
There have been allegations in Russia that Kuzminov, considered a traitor in his homeland, maintained contact with people from his previous life, which may have led the Russians to him.
State news agency TASS reported: “Maxim Kuzminov, a pilot who hijacked a Russian military helicopter in 2023, was reportedly found dead in Spain, several Spanish military channels said.”
Another pro-Kremlin media Mash said there were reports that “the body of Maxim Kuzminov was seen by a local resident on February 13 – it was full of bullets.”
The outlet also claimed that the defector “behaved inappropriately, yelling and constantly drunkenly chatting about his past and present life.”
The pro-Putin media Shot reported: “The pilot Maxim Kuzminov, who hijacked a Russian military helicopter, was found dead in Spain. “They shot him twelve times and then ran him over with a car.”
It later changed its story to say that he was “allegedly found dead.”
Russian media also blamed Ukraine for the defector's death without providing any evidence.
TASS claimed that “Ukrainian intelligence services could have eliminated them.” [Kuzimov] as an inconvenient witness'.
In October, shortly after his dramatic exit, there were public death threats against Kuzminov in Russia, suggesting that Putin's secret services would find and kill him for the ultimate betrayal.
Last year, anonymous Spetsnaz special forces officers from Russia's GRU military intelligence agency were shown on Moscow state television clarifying that an “order” had been given to liquidate Kuzminov.
Kuzminov's wife and family were believed to have been taken away from Russia before he fled
State broadcaster Rossiya 1's Vesti Nedeli channel told viewers in a chilling broadcast: “The order.” [to kill Captain Kuzminov] has been received, its implementation is a matter of time.'
A Spetsnaz officer said: “We will find the man and punish him for betraying his brothers to the fullest extent of our country's law.”
A second officer said: “He won't survive…”
Kuzminov's wife and family were believed to have been taken away from Russia before he fled. It was not known why he was in Spain.
After his defection, the pilot angered the Kremlin by urging other Russians to follow his example and defect to Ukraine.
He was also accused of being responsible for the deaths of two crew members who died during his defection.
In Russia there were claims that Kuzminov, considered a traitor in his homeland, had kept in touch with people from his previous life (pictured with his mother Inna Kuzminova).
After his defection, Kuzminov became Ukraine's propaganda trophy.
He declared that there were no Nazis in Ukraine – a regular claim of Putin's – and accused the dictator of “genocide” against both Ukrainians and Russians by waging the war.
In a documentary about his daring escape and surrender, he said: “I realized I was close to the border.”
“So I gave my location and said let's try… I had made my final decision… I was flying at extremely low altitude in radio silence mode…”
He said: '[I defected because] I am very offended by what is happening now.
“Murder, tears, blood.” Just people killing each other…
“What is happening now is simply a genocide of the Ukrainian people, both Ukrainian and Russian.
“The basis of my actions is not to contribute to these crimes.”
In an interview broadcast by Ukrainian authorities, Kuzimov said: “I contacted representatives of the Ukrainian intelligence service, explained my situation and offered them the option: “Come, we guarantee your safety, guarantee new documents, guarantee financial compensation, a reward. “'
He was reportedly promised £400,000 to flee to Ukraine with Russian military equipment.