Russian Pilot Who Lived in Spain After Defecting to Ukraine Shot Dead

Russian pilot Maksim Kuzminov who defected to Ukraine
Presumed to have lived under a fake identity in Spain

Maxim Kuzminov, a Russian military pilot who defected to Ukraine last year, was reportedly shot dead in Spain.

On the 19th (local time), British daily The Guardian and other foreign media reported that Kuzminov was found shot dead in the parking lot of an apartment in a village in southern Spain on the 13th of this month. A spokesperson for the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) under the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense also confirmed Kuzminov's death in Spain. However, they did not disclose detailed information about whether he was murdered.

Russian pilot Maksim Kuzminov who defected to Ukraine.
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Kuzminov was the first Russian military pilot to defect to Ukraine after the outbreak of the Ukraine war. In August last year, he flew a helicopter carrying parts of a Russian military fighter jet into Ukraine. The GUR stated that they persuaded Kuzminov directly for six months to defect, and his family was evacuated outside Russia in advance. Later, in September last year, there were media reports that Kuzminov would join the Ukrainian Air Force unit.

At the time of his death, Kuzminov was believed to have been living in Spain under a false identity while holding a Ukrainian passport. However, the reason why he left Ukraine and stayed in Spain is unknown.

Earlier, he appeared in a documentary film titled 'Zbvity Ryotchkirosyi' (Downed Russian Pilots) aired on Ukrainian local TV in September last year, stating, "What is happening now is simply a mass massacre of both Ukrainians and Russians. The basic principle of my actions is not to contribute to such crimes," and "The Ukrainian people are united, so Ukraine will definitely win this war." He added, "No one wants this war," and "It is only a matter of time before Ukraine wins."

Meanwhile, Vladimir Rogov, a pro-Russian Ukrainian official close to the Kremlin, claimed via Telegram that Kuzminov's death might be a staged act by Ukrainian intelligence agencies to cover up his identity.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.