The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine published an interview with a man it identified as the pilot in which he said how he escaped Russia.
    • holycrap@lemm.ee
      42·
      1 year ago

      I think it’s safe to say those f-16s would not have shot this guy down since he was in communication with AFU

  • Spaceinv8er@sh.itjust.works
    14·
    1 year ago

    I believe Russia are bastards for starting this war and should all go home, but if I was a Russian, I wouldn’t believe any of this.

  • GiuseppeAndTheYeti@midwest.socialEnglish
    132·
    1 year ago

    The Defense Intelligence’s write-up of Kuzminov’s interview didn’t mention the other members of his crew who were taken by surprise when the helicopter landed in enemy territory.

    When it occurred to the two crew members that they were in Ukraine, almost 200 miles from the front line, they started to freak out and tried to run, Ukrainian officials told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty last month. The two crew members were unwilling to surrender and subsequently “eliminated,” military officials said.

    Your pilot did all of the hard work. All you needed to do was chill…fucking morons. Good riddance.

    • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
      12·
      1 year ago

      It’s entirely possible that the crew members were concerned about retribution back home for their families. It’s a rational concern, because they weren’t planning to abandon their homes and loved ones and leave them behind to live as the families of traitors under despotic rule. The pilot’s family left the country already.

      It’s also possible that the crewmembers were not killed, and that this is a cover story to protect their families.

      • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
        1·
        1 year ago

        Yeah if I was going to defect lying to say I was dead would be part of the deal.

        Assuming I couldn’t otherwise get my family out.

        • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
          1·
          1 year ago

          They might have also been unaware of the plan, and found themselves in Ukraine without a lot of options. It could be column A, we kill you, or column B, we tell everyone we killed you but we don’t. It’s not like they would send enemy soldiers home to keep fighting.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldBEnglish
    10·
    1 year ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    The Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine with a Mi-8 helicopter and fighter-jet parts spoke publicly for the first time this week about how he pulled off his daring escape.

    The Ukrainian defense agency identified the pilot as Maksym Kuzminov, a 28-year-old former captain in Russia’s 319th separate helicopter regiment.

    The Defense Intelligence on Sunday published a documentary on YouTube titled “Downed Russian Pilots” that detailed the defection plot.

    The legislative bill passed by the Ukrainian Rada last year also promised “secrecy, a safe stay in Ukraine, and support in obtaining new documents and leaving for a third country” for any Russian soldiers who abandoned their post.

    The Defense Intelligence’s write-up of Kuzminov’s interview didn’t mention the other members of his crew who were taken by surprise when the helicopter landed in enemy territory.

    When it occurred to the two crew members that they were in Ukraine, almost 200 miles from the front line, they started to freak out and tried to run, Ukrainian officials told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty last month.

    The original article contains 608 words, the summary contains 172 words. Saved 72%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!