Ukrainian intelligence confirms death of Russian pilot who hijacked Mi-8 for Ukraine
Russian pilot Maxim Kuzminov (Photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Russian pilot Maxim Kuzminov, who hijacked a Mi-8 helicopter and fled to Ukraine in the summer of 2023, was indeed killed. His body was found in Spain, according to the representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Andrii Yusov, in a comment to RBC-Ukraine.
"We can confirm the fact of death," Yusov said.
However, Yusov did not specify information regarding the cause of the pilot's death.
Today, information began to appear in Spanish media that on February 13, the body of a Ukrainian was found in the municipality of Villajoyosa.
As reported by the Eureka News project, the deceased was allegedly Maxim Kuzminov. However, the ages of the deceased and Kuzminov do not match. The Russian pilot is currently 27 years old, while the deceased found is 33 years old.
Operation Synytsia
On August 23, 2023, information appeared online that a Russian Mi-8 helicopter had landed in Ukraine.
Later it became known that Ukrainian intelligence conducted a unique operation, during which they recruited Russian pilot Maxim Kuzminov.
He flew the Mi-8 helicopter from the Kursk region to the Kharkiv region. Two crew members who were on board with Kuzminov were eliminated.
The hijacked helicopter was handed over to Ukrainian defenders.
