Ukrainian secret services have revealed the identity of the Russian defector pilot who was allegedly flown into the country Ukraine in a Mi8 helicopter and also released statements in which the soldier 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 by Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Directorate on its YouTube channel on Sunday evening.
In the video, this 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.
The Russian said he contacted representatives of Ukrainian military intelligence, who guaranteed his safety, offered him new documents and financial compensation before proceeding with the operation.
The final decision was made while flying over Border between Russia and Ukraine
Kuzminov decided to take this stance while flying and piloting the helicopter near the RussianUkrainian border on August 9 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, the Russian soldier was injured after landing, but received medical attention in a timely manner.
Ukrainian intelligence services confirmed this Monday 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 emphasized that Russian pilots who decide to switch sides will receive “guarantees in accordance with the law,” including financial compensation for the military equipment handed over.
“You won’t regret it at all. You will have absolutely everything for the rest of your life,” Kuzminov told the Russian pilots in the video.
According to the documentary, Kuzmonov “deliveredvery valuable evidence about aircraft, communication systems and airfield networks of the enemy army“.