According to the Ukrainian intelligence service SBU, in the first half of August it was a Russian military helicopter that the Mi-8 type flew over the front line in the east of the country. The matter first became known on 23 August. On board was a crew of three, led by pilot Maksim Kuzminov. The first messages on Russian Telegram channels were that the helicopter had veered off course and then been forced down. Agreement with the Ukrainian security service But according to the Ukrainian security service SBU, which at the weekend published more details about what happened, it was all an agreed defection by the pilot Maksim Kuzminov. In a longer interview, Kuzminov says that he had been in contact with representatives of the Ukrainian security service for a long time, and that he had also ensured that his family had got out of Russia before the escape took place. This is also confirmed by the Russian Fighterbomber platform on Telegram, which writes that Kuzminov’s mother left Russia and went to Turkey quite some time ago. The other two on board the helicopter were unaware of Kuzminov’s escape plans. According to the Russian security service, they were killed when they tried to get away when the helicopter landed in Ukrainian-controlled territory. Kuzminov was slightly injured, but looks completely healthy in the interview that SBU published at the weekend. This is the helicopter that, according to the Ukrainian security service SBU, Maksim Kuzminov fled with. Photo: Screen dump, Ukrainian security service SBU From a department stationed at the Pacific Ocean – I contacted representatives of the Ukrainian intelligence service quite some time ago and explained my situation. – They guaranteed my safety and promised that I would get new identification and compensation so that I could start a new life, says Maksim Kuzminov in the interview, which has now been published on a number of social media. It has so far not been possible to check the authenticity of the interview or the circumstances under which it was conducted. This photo is supposed to be from the time when Maksim Kuzminov served in the Russian Air Force. The picture is from the documentary SBU has made about his defection. Photo: Screen dump, Ukrainian security service SBU But Maksim Kuzminov says he belongs to Department 319 in the Russian Air Force, usually stationed by the Pacific Ocean in the far east of Russia. Pictures are also shown of the helicopter, which is a modern variant of the Mi-8, of which several thousand have been produced since the late 1960s. – Follow my example and flee In the interview published by the Ukrainian security service, Maksim Kuzminov says that Russia is going to lose this war, and that what is happening is a genocide not only of the Ukrainian people, but also of the Russian people. He encourages other pilots to follow his example and take their helicopters and planes to Ukraine. He says he has seen nothing of all the fascists and Nazis in Ukraine, who are talked about in Russian propaganda. The Ukrainian security service SBU has also published a photo of the log book from the helicopter Maksim Kuzminov fled with. Photo: Screen dump, The Ukrainian security service SBU Helicopters to be used by the Ukrainian defense The helicopter, which is marked with the number 62, is now to be transferred to the Ukrainian air force. In any case, what has happened is a major propaganda victory for Ukraine, not least because they claim to have found many documents on board the plane that tell about the tactics of the Russian air force. The defection of Maksim Kuznetsov has so far not been officially commented on in Russia. But several of the influential military bloggers were quick to confirm what had happened. But they have also suggested that this was the result of faulty navigation and that the helicopters were forced down by the Ukrainian defence.
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Russian helicopter pilot jumped off – together with his helicopter – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
