A Russian pilot that defected to Ukraine has been found dead

The Russian helicopter who defected to Ukraine in August was reportedly found dead according to Ukrainiska Pravda and several other news outlets on February 19th. Here's what we know so far.

On August 9th, 2023, Kuzminov and two other soldiers boarded their combat transport copper at Kursk airport and set off for a mission that would end in the defection of Kuzminov to Ukraine and the death of his two crew members.

The story of how and why Kuzminov decided to defect is worthy of its own Hollywood blockbuster and we know a lot about what happened thanks to the willingness of Ukrainian intelligence to share the details of Operation Synystia.

A Russian Mi-8 AMTSH helicopter piloted by Kuzminov landed at the Poltava Air Base loaded with soldiers and supplies, and initial reports suggested the pilot had just gotten lost and landed at Poltava in error.  

Other reports from Russian military bloggers stated the airmen came under immediate attack according to The Kyiv Post, with many being killed or wounded in the encounter. 

However, the story turned out to be far stranger than a just pilot who got lost, and was really the result of a six-month-long operation by Ukraine's Directorate of Military Intelligence. 

At least that’s what a Ukrainian intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov claimed during an appearance on television shortly after the incident occurred and was reported online. 

Yusov explained the country’s military intelligence had been working with the helicopter crew in order to get them to Ukraine and said that more information would be given. 

"You will need to wait a bit, work is being conducted, including with the crew. Everything is fine, there will be news," Yusov said according to a Reuters translation. 

The British news outlet was also able to speak with Yusov about the incident and he told Reuters: "This was a GUR operation. The aircraft moved according to the plan." 

Ukraine’s acquisition of the Russian helicopter was a feather in the cap of the nation and it helped bolster the country’s dwindling aviation stock according to the Reuters report. 

More importantly, the defection gave Ukrainian commanders a keen insight into the state of the Russian air force and provide valuable information for future operations.

Ukrainska Pravda reported two crew members of the Mi-8 were “eliminated” during the operation and added the helicopter was laden with spare parts for Su-27 and Su-30 jets. 

The Head of Ukraine's Directorate of Military Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov later revealed a lot more details to Radio Liberty about the operation to lure the pilot to Ukraine.  

“We were able to find the right approach to the man,” Budanov said, adding that Ukraine was able to get the man's family out of Russia undetected so he could make his escape. 

The Mi-8 pilot had two crewmembers with him who didn’t know the aircraft was being flown to Ukraine and when the helicopter landed they tried to escape and were killed. 

“When they realized where they had landed, they tried to escape,” Budanov said based on a CNN translation of his comments to Radio Liberty. 

“Unfortunately, they were eliminated. We would prefer them alive, but it is what it is,” the Ukrainian intelligence chief continued, adding the pilot was doing well and had options. 

Budanov made it seem as if the pilot was planning on staying in Ukraine and went on to say that this was the first defection of its kind and hoped the operation could be scaled. 

A documentary entitled "Downed Russia Pilots" later featured Kuzminov and he explained his reasoning behind deciding to defect to Ukriane. His words were quoted by The Kyiv Independent.

"What is happening now is simply the genocide of the Ukrainian people. Both Ukrainian and Russian. The basis of my action is not to contribute to these crimes. Ukraine will definitely win this war simply because the people have rallied very much...No one wants this war. When Ukraine wins is only a matter of time," Kuzminov explained.

Kuzminov told other defectors: "If you do what I did, this kind of thing, you will not regret it at all. You will be provided for the rest of your life with absolutely everything." The former Russian airmen also explained that he provided "valuable evidence about Russia's army aviation, communication systems, and airfield network.

Kuzminov was given $500,000 dollars as a reward for his helicopter according to The Kyiv Independent, and he was also told he would receive protection and security for himself and his family for the rest of his life. He later moved to Spain where Ukrainian intelligence said he was found killed.

The former Russian pilot was allegedly found shot dead outside of his apartment on February 19th, and a burned out car used in the killing was found nearby. Andriy Yusov confirmed Kuzminov's death but provided few other details.