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Operation Synytsia (Ukrainian: Операція «Синиця», romanized: Operatsiia "Synytsia", lit. 'tit') was an operation conducted by Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence to facilitate the defection of Russian Mi-8 helicopter pilot Maxim Kuzminov (Russian: Максим Кузьминов). After previously arranging his defection and the simultaneous escape of his family, on 9 August 2023, Kuzminov turned off radio communications and landed near Poltava, Kharkiv Oblast, where Ukrainian forces received him.[1][2]
On 5 September 2023, Ukrainian intelligence representative Andriy Yusov announced that Maxim Kuzminov would receive a reward of $500,000 paid in the Ukrainian hryvnia. Yusov additionally promised that Kuzminov and his family would receive unspecified security guarantees, as well as eventual Ukrainian citizenship.
On 13 February 2024, Kuzminov was found dead with bullet wounds in Villajoyosa, Spain.[3][4][5]
- ^ Kostenko, Josh; Pennington, Maria (4 September 2023). "'Let's give it a try,' recalls Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine in his military helicopter". CNN. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ "Операцію "Синиця" з перельотом Ми-8 РФ в Україну готували півроку". mil.in.ua. 24 August 2023.
- ^ "Russian pilot who surrendered helicopter to Ukraine found shot dead in Spain". pravda.com.ua. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "Asesinan a tiros a un hombre ucraniano en un garaje de Alicante". ABC C. Valenciana (in Spanish). 14 February 2024.
- ^ "ГУР Украины заявило о смерти угнавшего Ми-8 российского летчика Кузьминова". Коммерсантъ (in Russian). 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.