Defence Intelligence of Ukraine revealed the Russian pilot who handed over the Mi-8AMTSh helicopter to Ukraine
3 September, 2023 Russian pilot who handed over the Mi-8AMTSh helicopter to Ukraine. Source: freeze frame of the DIU video The Defence Intelligence revealed the Russian pilot who handed over the Mi-8AMTSh helicopter to Ukraine.
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine published the video on this on its YouTube channel. On Sunday, September 3, 2023, at 10:15 p.m., the documentary "Downed Russian Pilots" from the documentary series "Military Intelligence of Ukraine" will be broadcast on the national TV marathon. The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine will reveal the details of the operation in this movie.
"No one wants this war. You will see Ukraine winning, it is only a matter of time...", the pilot said. Militarnyi reported that as part of a special operation that lasted six months, the Defence Intelligence managed to seize a Mi-8AMTSh helicopter and the equipment it was carrying.
A Russian Mi-8AMTSh helicopter captured near the village of Poltava, Kharkiv region.
2023. Photo from open sources
The operation was codenamed Synytsia (Titmouse - Ed.). Two crew members were on board along with the pilot, and they were eliminated by Defence Intelligence.
The helicopter landed near the town of Poltava in the Kharkiv region. The pilot himself is currently in Ukraine with his family, who were moved out of Russia in advance. The captured Mi-8AMTSh (aircraft number 62 Red) helicopter is part of the 2nd helicopter squadron of the 337th Separate Helicopter Regiment (military unit 12739) based at the Tolmachevo airport.
READ MORE IN THE ARTICLE: "First trophy: how Russian crew passed Mi-8 to Ukrainian intelligence"
Russians put forward several versions of the incident.
For example, propagandist Ilya Tumanov, who manages the theme-based aviation channel Fighterbomber, put forward his own theory.
Ukrainian special forces near the Russian Mi-8 helicopter. August 2023. Ukraine.
Photo by Artem Shevchenko
He suggested the idea that the crew of the military transport helicopter "lost orientation" and crossed the Russian-Ukrainian border. Tumanov suggested that the cause of the crew's disorientation could be a failure of the onboard navigation system or a "fake radio message" issued by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Tumanov claimed that the Russian crew visually discovered the airfield and decided to land.
After landing, the Ukrainian military allegedly opened fire on a helicopter, eliminating two crew members and wounding the commander. In addition, the Russian propagandist stated that he was allegedly in contact with the families of the crew, including the commander.
Ukrainian special forces near a Russian Mi-8 helicopter. August 2023, Ukraine.
Photo credits: Artem Shevchenko
"We managed to find the right approach to the person, were able to create conditions to move the whole family unnoticed, and eventually create such conditions that he could overtake this aircraft with a crew who did not know what was happening. Once they realized where they had landed, they tried to escape. Unfortunately, they were eliminated, I would like to (take them) alive, but we have what we have," Kyrylo Budanov said.
In the spring of 2022, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine established an official level of remuneration for the Russian equipment voluntarily transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to the current law, the crew can receive £500,000 for a combat helicopter, and £1 million for a combat aircraft.