Ukraine says defected Russian pilot `revealed important intelligence`

(Dan Tri) – Ukrainian officials say Russian military defector Maksym Kuzminov is believed to be revealing important intelligence information about Moscow to Kiev.

A Ukrainian official and defected Russian Mi-8 helicopter pilot Maksim Kuzminov (black shirt) at a press conference in Kiev on September 5 (Photo: Ukrinform).

The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Agency said that pilot Kuzminov, a 28-year-old former captain of Russia’s 319th independent helicopter regiment, appeared to be revealing important information about Moscow to Kiev.

Accordingly, the Ukrainian agency said that Kuzminov is sharing information about Russia’s communication system and airport network with Kiev.

Intelligence information is an important weapon in any war.

Russia has not commented on the information that Kuzminov is providing important intelligence information to Ukraine.

Last week, the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Agency released a documentary about Kuzminov’s escape.

`I contacted representatives of Ukrainian intelligence and explained my situation. After that, I was promised security guarantees, new personal documents, monetary compensation and rewards,` Mr. Kuzminov said.

Pilot Kuzminov said his family was secretly moved from Russia to Ukraine early before the escape.

Russia said at the time that the helicopter mistakenly landed at the Ukrainian air force base in Kharkiv after the pilot became disoriented, but Kuzminov denied it.

Ukrainian intelligence said Kuzminov was injured in the final stages of the escape but quickly received medical assistance.

Images in a video posted by Ukraine show a Mi-8 helicopter parked on a large lawn while Ukrainian soldiers circle the plane and look inside.

Ukrainian defense intelligence said that after Kuzminov landed in the Kharkiv region, the helicopter was taken to a safer area.

The Mi-8 AMTSh 2016 was once assigned to Russia’s 319th independent helicopter regiment based in the Primorsky region.

According to Ukraine, Kuzminov and his family are currently safe in Ukraine.

Last year, the Ukrainian government launched a program calling on Russian military members to defect with their weapons for large rewards.