Russian Pilot Alleges Genocide in Ukraine – A Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine has spoken out against what he describes as “genocide.”
This revelation comes as the former Russian pilot, Maksim Kuzminov, gave his first interview since crossing into Ukrainian territory.
Appearing on television on Sunday night, Kuzminov expressed deep remorse for the ongoing violence in Ukraine, stating, “I feel sorry for what is happening right now: killings, tears, and blood.”
Crossing the Front Line in Ukraine War
The 28-year-old pilot said he successfully flew a Russian Mi-8 helicopter across the front line in Kharkiv in a coordinated operation with Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR).
On Monday, the GUR released a video clip, asserting that Kuzminov arrived in Ukraine on August 9th, carrying “valuable documents” and “secret technical equipment.”
During the interview, Kuzminov sported a black T-shirt adorned with the Ukrainian trident symbol, underlining that it was his own decision to defect. He described how he had initiated contact with Ukrainian military intelligence representatives, explaining his situation. In response, they offered him a deal that ensured his safety, provided new documents, and included a reward.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian intelligence, disclosed that Kuzminov’s family had been extracted from Russia before the operation, while other crew members who attempted to escape upon landing in Ukraine met tragic fates.
Russian Exile’s Regret: “Nothing but a Genocide” in Ukraine
Kuzminov refrained from providing extensive details about his role over the past 18 months, only emphasizing his sense of regret as he characterized the situation in Ukraine as “nothing but a genocide of the Ukrainian people.”
The GUR identified Kuzminov as a pilot from the 319th helicopter regiment of the Russian air force, stationed in Russia’s Far East, near China. This meticulously planned operation took approximately six months to execute.
The daring border crossing occurred while Kuzminov was on a mission flying near the northeastern Ukrainian border. Seizing the opportunity, he contacted his handlers and proposed his escape plan. He recounted, “I said, ‘Let’s try it. I’m very close by.’ I flew on at the lowest possible altitude with radio silence. No one really knew where I was.”
It likely took his superiors a few days to realize that he had defected.
Russia’s defense ministry has yet to comment on the matter, but a Telegram channel associated with the military had previously claimed that Kuzminov’s landing in Ukraine was a mistake.
Ukrainian intelligence shared footage that seemingly showed the helicopter touching down in a field, with two Ukrainian commandos rushing toward it and entering the aircraft.
In a separate statement, GUR confirmed that two other Russian crew members were unaware of the nature of their mission and decided not to surrender, tragically losing their lives soon after landing in Ukraine. Kuzminov did not offer any comments regarding their deaths.
Kuzminov’s interview, released by the GUR as part of a one-hour documentary on recent covert operations, echoes the intelligence agency’s call to Russian pilots to follow his lead. He assured that Kyiv would take care of them, and they would “never regret it.”
Social media profiles of Kuzminov and his friends corroborate his military pilot background, as reported by Russian media.
Evidence of Escalating Russian Genocide
Kristina Hook, a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center recently authored a new report that highlighted evidence of escalating Russian genocide in Ukraine. The fresh research, conducted by the New Lines Institute and Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, focuses on Russia’s actions in Ukraine, which it deems to be in breach of the United Nations Genocide Convention.
The report identifies a serious risk of genocide and asserts that Russia’s actions have escalated in this regard. It emphasizes that the Genocide Convention obligates signatory countries, including Russia, to take action as soon as they become aware of genocide risks. The report also highlights that Russia’s actions involve not only the commission of genocide but also conspiracy to commit genocide, attempts to commit genocide, complicity in genocide, and direct and public incitement to genocide, which is considered a crime with no statute of limitations.
The report calls for international attention and action to halt what it describes as Russia’s clear and evolving genocidal tactics in Ukraine. It underscores that Russia’s actions encompass all five acts prohibited in the Genocide Convention’s Article II and urges the international community to respond proactively to the escalating genocide in Ukraine.
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
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