A former pilot who intended to help Ukraine was detained in the Russian Federation

5 June, 2024 A Russian former pilot who was allegedly recruited by the SSU. June 2024. Russia.

Photo credits: Telegram channel Mash Russia reported the detention of a former military pilot who sought to help the Ukrainian side. This is stated in the publication of the Russian Telegram channel Mash, which published a video with the pilot.

It is reported that FSS officers detained a citizen who was allegedly recruited by the SSU. The former military pilot was supposed to collect information about airports that are located in the Moscow and Kaluga regions. According to Mash, a 61-year-old retired man who expressed disagreement with the conduct of the war allegedly contacted representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine on social media.

The citizen also offered Ukraine his services in training Ukrainian pilots. "He was given the task of collecting data on airports that are located in the Moscow and Kaluga regions.

He did not have time to execute it, as he was detained by the FSS," the report said. This is not the first time that Russian pilots have agreed to cooperate with Ukraine. In 2023, Russian pilot Maxim Kuzminov delivered a Mi-8 helicopter, which was driven out of Russia, to Ukraine.

Russian Mi-8 pilot Maxim Kuzminov, 2023.

A frame from the documentary film "Downed Russian pilots"

At the time, the Ukrainian side promised him the payments provided for by a special law, new documents, and security for him and his relatives. Also, from April to July 2022, the Ukrainian side tried to recruit a Russian pilot and persuade him to overtake a military plane to Ukraine. However, the operation was disrupted.

Photo for Ukrainian special services from a Russian pilot.

2022.

Photo credits: Ukrainska Pravda

In 2023, counterintelligence exposed a state traitor who wanted to "lure" Ukrainian military pilots to the side of Russia.

It turned out to be a retired military pilot, a resident of temporarily occupied Berdyansk.