Pilot Commander Mi-8AMTSh - Captain
Unit: 319th Separate Helicopter Regiment, 11th Air and Air Defense Forces Army, Eastern Military District
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Maxim is the pilot who defected with his Mi-8 helicopter, and whom the GRU swore would not live to see trial.
Cargo ID: #1157
English Name: Maxim Germanovich Kuzminov
Russian Name: Максим Германович Кузьминов
Date of Birth: June 19, 1995 (age: 28 years)
Place of Birth: Arsenyev, Primorsky Territory, Russia
Place of Death: Villajoyosa in Alicante, Spain (shot 6 times and run over)
“Two attackers got out of the car, called out to him and opened fire. Despite being hit by six bullets, most of which struck his torso, Kuzminov managed to run a short distance before collapsing onto a ramp. The killers returned to the car and, as they drove out, ran over Kuzminov’s body.
The two hooded killers who appeared on surveillance camera footage installed in the parking lot of Kuzminov’s residential complex were clearly professionals who completed their mission and quickly disappeared.”
Education: Syzran Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots
Maxim Kuzminov was the crew Commander and Pilot of the Mi-8AMTSh Helicopter that as part of Operation "Sinitsa" Defected to Ukraine and landed in the Kharkiv Oblast on the 9th August 2023. This was a Moral decision he undertook because of his opposition to the war and being unable to resign from his position.
"In October last year, the Rossiya 1 TV channel aired a report in which fighters who introduced themselves as special forces soldiers of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) said that pilot Kuzminov “will not live to see trial.” Behind the scenes, the journalist notes that the order to physically eliminate Maxim Kuzminov “has already been received,” and its execution is only “a matter of time.” The military personnel, in turn, promise to punish the defector pilot."
The shooting occurred on the second floor, but the body was found on the ramp leading to the first floor. It is believed that the deceased was trying to escape from the killers. Shortly thereafter, a burned-out car was discovered in the nearby town of El Campello, where the alleged killers may have fled after fatally stabbing the victim.
"Otherwise, the data from the Spanish and Italian media partially coincide. According to ABC, at least six bullet wounds were found on the body of the deceased. A burnt-out car was also found in the neighboring town of El Campello, where the alleged killer could have fled. The Spanish newspaper writes that the body was found on the garage ramp."
A photo has emerged that allegedly shows the body of pilot Maxim Kuzminov immediately after the murder. In addition to the version that Kuzminov was killed by agents of the Russian special services, a version is being considered that the pilot could have become a victim of killers of a fraternal organized crime group. At least two of them left Spain immediately after the crime. The Bratsk organized crime group is subordinate to one of the few untouchable thieves in law in the Russian Federation, Vladimir Tyurin (Tyurik), who is believed to have been the organizer of the murder of ex-deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Denis Voronenkov in Kyiv. However, this does not change the situation much; Tyurin also receives instructions from the Russian special services (in particular, in the case of Voronenkov), and therefore is untouchable. Spain has already stated that it will give a “decisive response” to Moscow to this murder.
