Russian army pilot who defected to Ukraine ‘discovered lifeless in Spain’

A ‘hero’ Russian army pilot who flew his Mi-8 helicopter over the frontline to defect to Ukraine has discovered lifeless in Spain amid experiences in Moscow that his physique was ‘riddled with bullets’.

Captain Maksim Kuzminov, 28, fled Russia with the assistance of Ukrainian intelligence companies and accused Vladimir Putin of ‘genocide’ following his daring escape final summer time.

Ukrainian GUR army intelligence confirmed right now that the pilot – a recognized goal of Russian demise squads – had died in Spain, however gave no additional particulars concerning the circumstances surrounding his demise.

It comes after Spanish authorities mentioned a Ukrainian man aged 33 had been shot lifeless inside a storage in Villajoyosa, close to Alicante, on Tuesday afternoon.

Sources near the inquiry mentioned the person had obtained almost a dozen gunshot wounds. A burnt-out automobile believed to have been linked to the taking pictures was subsequently discovered close by. 

Almost per week later, a sudden flurry of experiences from state and pro-Putin media in Russia have strongly urged that Kuzminov was the sufferer within the Spanish taking pictures.

Responding to the experiences, investigators in Spain mentioned right now that they’re wanting into whether or not the sufferer, who has not been named, might have been utilizing a false id. 

 

A Civil Guard spokesman mentioned right now: ‘On Tuesday final week a person appeared lifeless in Villajoyosa with a number of gunshot wounds.

‘In the course of the investigation that’s being carried out, it has been discovered that the id that individual was utilizing may very well be false and belong to a different individual.

‘The Civil Guard remains to be making an attempt to verify this.’

There have been claims in Russia that Kuzminov, labelled a traitor in his homeland, had saved in touch with folks from his former life, which can have led the Russians to him.

State information company TASS reported: ‘Maxim Kuzminov, a pilot who hijacked a Russian army helicopter in 2023, has reportedly been discovered lifeless in Spain, a variety of Spanish army retailers mentioned.’

Another Kremlin-obedient outlet Mash mentioned there have been experiences that ‘the physique of Maxim Kuzminov was seen by a neighborhood resident on February 13 – it was riddled with bullets.’

The outlet additionally claimed the defector had ‘behaved inappropriately, shouted and continually chattered drunkenly about his previous and current life.’

Pro-Putin outlet Shot reported: ‘Pilot Maxim Kuzminov, who hijacked a Russian army helicopter, was discovered lifeless in Spain. They shot him 12 instances after which ran over him in a automobile.’

It later amended its story to say he was ‘allegedly discovered lifeless’.

Russian media channels have additionally piled blame on Ukraine for the defector’s demise, with out offering proof.

TASS alleged that ‘Ukrainian intelligence businesses might have eradicated [Kuzimov] as an inconvenient witness’.

In October, quickly after his dramatic defection, there have been public demise threats towards Kuzminov in Russia, with recommendations that Putin’s secret companies would discover and kill him for an final betrayal.

Anonymous Spetsnaz particular forces officers from Russia’s GRU army intelligence service have been final 12 months proven on Moscow state TV making clear an ‘order’ had been given to liquidate Kuzminov.

State-run Rossiya 1 channel’s Vesti Nedeli channel informed viewers in a chilling broadcast: ‘The order [to kill Captain Kuzminov] was obtained, its execution is a matter of time.’

One Spetsnaz officer mentioned: ‘We’ll discover the person and punish him for betraying his brothers to the fullest extent of our nation’s legislation.’

A second officer mentioned: ‘He is not going to reside…’

Kuzminov’s spouse and household have been believed to have been taken out of Russia earlier than he defected. It was not recognized why he was in Spain.

After his defection, the pilot riled the Kremlin by urging different Russians to comply with his instance and defect to Ukraine.

He was additionally accused of being chargeable for the demise of two crew members who died when he defected.

After defecting, Kuzminov turned a propaganda trophy for Ukraine.

He said there have been no Nazis in Ukraine – an everyday Putin assertion – and accused the dictator of ‘genocide’ of each Ukrainians and Russians by conducting the struggle.

In a documentary on his audacious flight and give up, he mentioned: ‘I realised I used to be close to the border.

‘So I gave my location, mentioned let’s give it a shot… I had made my ultimate resolution… I flew at extraordinarily low altitude in radio silent mode.…’

He mentioned: ‘[I defected because] I’m very offended by what is occurring now.

‘Murder, tears, blood. Just folks killing one another…

‘What is occurring now’s simply genocide of the Ukrainian folks, each Ukrainian and Russian.

‘The foundation of my motion is to not contribute to those crimes.’

In an interview broadcast by Ukraine’s authorities, Kuzimov mentioned: ‘I contacted representatives of Ukrainian intelligence, defined my scenario, to which they supplied this feature “Come on, we guarantee your safety, guarantee new documents, guarantee monetary compensation, a reward”.’ 

He was reportedly promised £400,000 to defect to Ukraine with Russian army tools.