Last summer, Maksim Kuzminov made a daring escape to Ukraine, handing over his military helicopter to Ukrainian commandos in exchange for half a million dollars. Ukraine celebrated the defection, but in Russia, it was considered treason. Despite warnings from Ukrainian intelligence officials, Kuzminov moved to a small resort town in Spain. Now, at 28, he is believed to have met a tragic fate, with Spanish police finding his body riddled with bullets in Villajoyosa.
Ukraine’s military intelligence representative confirmed Kuzminov’s death, but details remain unclear. The case has raised suspicions of Russian involvement, given President Putin’s disdain for defectors and history of targeted assassinations. Moscow’s foreign intelligence chief condemned Kuzminov’s defection, and his death comes shortly after the demise of Putin’s political adversary, Aleksei A. Navalny.
Ukrainian authorities revealed that Kuzminov’s defection was part of a six-month operation called “Titmouse,” where he agreed to cooperate with Ukrainian intelligence for guaranteed safety.
2024-02-20 14:00:26
Article from www.nytimes.com
