A ‘hero’ Russian military pilot who flew his Mi-8 helicopter over the front line to defect to Ukraine has been found dead in Spain amid reports in Moscow that his body was ‘riddled with bullets’.
Captain Maksim Kuzminov, 28, fled Russia with the help of Ukrainian intelligence services and accused Vladimir Putin of “genocide” after his daring escape last summer.
Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence service confirmed today that the pilot – a known target of Russian death squads – had been killed in Spain, but provided no further details on the circumstances surrounding his death.
It comes after Spanish authorities said a Ukrainian man aged 33 was shot dead in a garage in Villajoyosa, near Alicante, on Tuesday afternoon.
Sources close to the investigation said the man suffered nearly a dozen gunshot wounds. A burned-out car believed to be related to the shooting was subsequently found nearby.
Nearly a week later, a sudden outpouring of reports from state and pro-Putin media in Russia strongly suggested that Kuzminov was the victim of the Spanish shooting.
Responding to the reports, investigators in Spain said today they are investigating whether the victim, who has not been named, may have used a false identity.
Captain Maksim Kuzminov, 28, fled Russia with the help of Ukrainian intelligence services
According to Spanish authorities, a 33-year-old Ukrainian man was shot dead in a garage in Villajoyosa, near Alicante, on Tuesday afternoon.
The Russian military pilot flew his Mi-8 helicopter over the front line to defect to Ukraine
There are claims in Russia that Kuzminov, who was branded a traitor in his home country, had kept in touch with people from his past life, which may have led the Russians to him.
State news agency TASS reported: ‘Maxim Kuzminov, a pilot who hijacked a Russian military helicopter in 2023, has reportedly been found dead in Spain, a number of Spanish military media said.’
Another Kremlin-abiding outlet, Mash, said there were reports that “Maxim Kuzminov’s body was seen by a local resident on February 13 – it was riddled with bullets.”
The outlet also alleged that the defector had “behaved inappropriately, shouted and constantly drunkenly talked about his past and present life.”
Pro-Putin outlet Shot reported: “Pilot Maxim Kuzminov, who hijacked a Russian military helicopter, was found dead in Spain. They shot him twelve times and then ran over him with a car.’
It later changed its story to say he was “reportedly found dead.”
Russian media outlets have also blamed Ukraine for the defector’s death, without providing evidence.
TASS claimed that “Ukrainian intelligence services could have eliminated (Kuzimov) as a troublesome witness.”
In October, shortly after his dramatic defection, there were public death threats against Kuzminov in Russia, with suggestions that Putin’s secret services would hunt him down and kill him for ultimate treason.
Anonymous Spetsnaz officers from Russia’s GRU military intelligence service appeared on state TV in Moscow last year, making it clear that an “order” had been given to liquidate Kuzminov.
It was believed that Kuzminov’s wife and family had been brought from Russia before he defected
State broadcaster Rossiya 1’s Vesti Nedeli channel told viewers in a chilling broadcast: “The order (to kill Captain Kuzminov) has been received, its execution is a matter of time.”
One Spetsnaz officer said: “We will find the man and punish him for betraying his brothers, to the fullest extent of the law of our country.”
A second officer said: ‘He won’t live…’
It was believed that Kuzminov’s wife and family had been brought from Russia before he defected. It is not known why he was in Spain.
In Spain, a Guardia Civil spokesman said today: ‘Last Tuesday a man appeared dead in Villajoyosa with several gunshot wounds.
“In the course of the investigation being conducted, it has emerged that the identity used by that person could have been false and could have belonged to another person.
“The Guardia Civil is still trying to confirm this.”
After his defection, Kuzminov roiled the Kremlin by urging other Russians to follow his example and defect to Ukraine.
He was also accused of being responsible for the deaths of two crew members who died when he defected.
There are claims in Russia that Kuzminov, who was branded a traitor in his home country, had kept in touch with people from his past life (pictured with his mother Inna Kuzminova)
After defecting, Kuzminov became a propaganda trophy for Ukraine.
He declared that there were no Nazis in Ukraine – a regular claim by Putin – and accused the dictator of “genocide” of both Ukrainians and Russians by waging the war.
In a documentary about his daring flight and surrender, he said: ‘I realized I was near the border.
“So I gave up my location, said let’s give it a try… I had made my final decision… I was flying at extremely low altitude in radio silent mode….”
He said: ‘(I defected because) I am very offended by what is happening now.
‘Murder, tears, blood. Just people killing each other…
“What is happening now is simply a genocide of the Ukrainian people, both Ukrainian and Russian.
“The basis of my action is not to contribute to these crimes.”
In an interview broadcast by Ukrainian authorities, Kuzimov said: “I contacted representatives of the Ukrainian intelligence service, explained my situation, and they offered this option: ‘Come on, we guarantee your safety, guarantee new documents, guarantee a monetary compensation, a reward’. ‘
He was reportedly promised £400,000 to defect to Ukraine with Russian military equipment.