28-year-old Captain Maxim Kuzminov seized control of a Russian armored combat Mi-8 helicopter and brought it safely to an airbase in the Kharkiv region in August of 2023.
We knew they have the means of killing people in Europe, so that shouldn’t score Russia any points. On the other hand, the pilot being in Spain proves Ukraine must have granted him citizenship and allowed him to not be bound by any work obligations, just as promised.
He most probably changed his name and is part of some witness protection scheme or so. I doubt that Russia can go after someone like him unless he made a mistake that somehow gave his identitiy away. But he also should be well aware of the risks, so to me it seems unlikely.
Or blatant Kremlin lies (as usual) to scare off other brave defectors.
We knew they have the means of killing people in Europe, so that shouldn’t score Russia any points. On the other hand, the pilot being in Spain proves Ukraine must have granted him citizenship and allowed him to not be bound by any work obligations, just as promised.
He most probably changed his name and is part of some witness protection scheme or so. I doubt that Russia can go after someone like him unless he made a mistake that somehow gave his identitiy away. But he also should be well aware of the risks, so to me it seems unlikely.