The young Russian pilot who deserted last summer to denounce the invasion of Ukraine was found dead in Spain. He has been murdered.
Spanish police say bullet-ridden body of man found in underground car park near Alicante is that ofa Russian army pilot who deserted last August.
The man found dead this Tuesday in the town of Villajoyosa, near Alicante in Spain, was Maksim Kuzminov. This 28-year-old Russian pilot became known last August after fleeing his country. He then delivered his helicopter to the Ukrainian army.
While awaiting final verifications, Ukrainian media quickly mentioned the name of the Russian pilot. The head of Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR) was the first to publicly make the connection in an interview with Kyiv Post : “We can confirm his death”indicated Kyrylo Budanov, while another GUR source told the site Ukrainska Pravda that Maksim Kuzminov was shot several times near his home. “He had decided to go live in Spain rather than staying in Ukraine”said the source.
Considered a traitor on the Russian side, the young pilot declared that he had changed sides because he opposed Russia’s war against Ukraine. He also said Ukraine promised him $500,000, new documents and protection for his family.
In the columns of _Pravda,_Sergueï Naryshkin, director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), declared that Maksim Kuzminov “was a moral corpse when he planned his crimes”, refusing to comment further on his assassination.
The young pilot had been the subject of death threats in Russian media. “The special forces have received orders” and he “will not live to see his trial,” Russian intelligence sources predicted on Rossiya 1 television.
The Ukrainian secret services had revealed some details of the pilot’s escape which ended in the death of his fellow passengers. At the same time, his family had been exfiltrated from Russia.
This spectacular escape was then widely relayed by Ukrainian propaganda.