The mysterious death of a man believed to be Maxim Kuzminov, a Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine last year, has stirred intrigue in Spain. The body of the man, shot dead near Alicante last week, is suspected to be that of Kuzminov, although Spanish authorities have yet to confirm his identity publicly.
Kuzminov made headlines in August when he piloted a helicopter into Ukrainian territory and surrendered himself to Ukrainian authorities. Ukrainian intelligence corroborated Kuzminov’s demise on Monday, with a spokesperson confirming to the Ukrainian outlet Ukrayinska Pravda: “We confirm the fact of his death… He decided to move to Spain rather than remain here. What we know is that he invited his ex-spouse to join him and then he was found shot to death.”
Spanish authorities disclosed to the BBC that the victim might have been residing under an assumed identity. Reports from the Spanish news agency Efe indicated that Kuzminov’s body was discovered near a property in Villajoyosa, along Spain’s eastern coast. Documentation found alongside the body matched his nationality but bore a different name. Additionally, investigators found a burnt-out car believed to have been used by the assailants near the crime scene, according to the intelligence Agency’s press service.
Kuzminov’s defection, known as “Operation Synytsia,” involved him flying his Mi-8 helicopter over the border and landing it in eastern Ukraine on August 9th. Tragically, two individuals on board, unaware of Kuzminov’s intentions, were shot dead as they attempted to flee back towards the border after the helicopter touched down. Kuzminov, who sustained a gunshot wound to the leg during the incident, attributed the killings to Russian forces.
During a news conference in September, Kuzminov cited his opposition to Russia’s war on Ukraine as the primary reason for his defection. He claimed that Ukraine had pledged $500,000 in state payments, new documents, and family protection as incentives for his defection. Ukrainian authorities asserted that they had extended an offer for Kuzminov to remain in Ukraine, expressing disappointment in Spain’s handling of the situation.
While Russian authorities have remained silent on the matter, Sergei Naryshkin, director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, denounced Kuzminov as a “traitor and criminal” during a recent statement.
The circumstances surrounding Kuzminov’s death raise questions about his defection and subsequent actions, casting a shadow over diplomatic relations between Russia, Ukraine, and Spain.
