The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has declassified the details of a special operation as part of which a Russian pilot handed over the Mi-8AMTSh helicopter.

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine revealed the details of the operation in the documentary “Downed Russian Pilots”.

This Defence Intelligence special operation, which had been prepared for several months, was codenamed Synytsia (Titmouse – Ed.).

In particular, the film reveals the identity of the Russian pilot who flew the Mi-8AMTSh helicopter of the Russian Aerospace Forces with a tail number of 62 to Ukraine. This is Captain Maksim Kuzminov, the commander of the Mi-8 helicopter.

Along with the pilot, there were two crew members on board who did not know where the helicopter was actually going. The Mi-8 landed in the Kharkiv region. In the course of the special operation, two crew members were killed. The Ukrainian intelligence officers received valuable documentation and classified equipment that was on board the Russian helicopter.

The 28-year-old Russian pilot served in the 319th Helicopter Regiment of the Russian Air Force (military unit 13984), which was permanently stationed in the Primorsky Krai of Russia. He contacted Ukrainian intelligence himself.

“I contacted the Ukrainian intelligence and explained my situation. I was offered security guarantees, new documents, monetary compensation, and a reward. We discussed the details and started planning my flight,” said Maksim Kuzminov.

According to the pilot, the risky operation was kept secret and successfully completed because the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine was able to organize a safe corridor.

During the special operation, Kuzminov was wounded, but he received medical care in time. The main motive for his action, according to Maksim Kuzminov, was his categorical rejection of the aggressive war that Russia had unleashed against Ukraine, as well as his unwillingness to be involved in war crimes.

A Russian pilot’s appeal to his colleagues

The Russian pilot urged his former colleagues to follow his example.

“You will not regret it at all. You will simply discover a colorful world. And remember: you simply don’t know much, you haven’t seen how other people live. When you really discover something, you will change your opinion radically,” the Russian pilot emphasized.

Kuzminov is now safe and provides Ukrainian intelligence with very valuable information about the enemy’s army aviation, communication systems and airfield network of the Russian Federation.