Maksym Kuzinov: Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine with an MI-8 helicopter,to be rewarded by Kyiv

A Russian pilot who had defected to Ukraine with an Mi-8 helicopter will receive a substantial reward of half a million dollars for changing sides and taking Russia’s military equipment with him.

Ukraine’s military intelligence spokesman, Andriy Yusov, said on Ukrainian television that the money would be paid in the national currency…and has also called on other Russian military personnel to follow suit and defect to Kyiv’s side.

Maksym Kuzminov, a 28-year-old Russian helicopter pilot, surrendered to Ukraine last month, bringing with him an Mi-8 helicopter and stolen fighter jet spare parts.

Kuzminov served in the “319th separate helicopter regiment” based in Russia’s Far Eastern Primorye region.

His arrival in Ukraine marked the end of a 6-month secret defection plot he had worked out with Ukraine, which involved moving his family out of Russia.

Ukraine's Parliament had started the "I want to live" initiative in April 2022 encouraging Russian soldiers to surrender and offering them up to $1 million for stolen equipment.

Ukraine has an official list of rewards for Russian soldiers who defect with military equipment such as aircraft and heavy weapons.

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