A Russian soldier who defected by helicopter to Ukraine in September has been found dead in Spain. Maxim Kuzminov, a 28-year-old pilot, died in Villajoyosain Alicante, the Russian press reports citing Spanish media.
“We can confirm the death,” said Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andrei Yusov.
On February 13, police found a body with six bullets on a garage ramp. Shortly thereafter, authorities discovered a burning car near the crime scene, in which they suspect the suspect may have fled.
Ukraine paid for desertion to motivate more Russians
Kuzminov’s escape took months of preparation and led to the Russian flying a helicopter to Ukrainian soil, where he surrendered. In contrast, two other crew members, unaware of their colleague’s intentions, refused to surrender and died.
According to Yusov, a Russian soldier would receive a reward of more than 400 thousand euros for desertion. The award was intended to encourage other Russian soldiers to follow the same path.
The Russian TV channel Rossiya-1 reported that the Russian military had received orders to execute Kuzminov and that his death was “a matter of time.”