A Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine last year in a secret operation has been found dead in Spain, according to the main military intelligence agency in Kyiv.

Reports in Russian and Spanish media on Monday said Maksim Kuzminov was found dead after allegedly moving to the town of Villajoyosa in Alicante on the Mediterranean coast, in an area popular with holidaymakers. His body was discovered last Tuesday, it was said, on the car park ramp underneath an apartment block.

The reports claimed he had been murdered by unknown gunmen who fired 12 shots. A burnt-out car was discovered nearby in the Costa Blanca town of El Campello. Spanish police had initially thought the shooting was gang-related before reportedly learning of the victim’s extraordinary backstory and his former role in Russia’s war and invasion.

  • @Holzkohlen@feddit.de
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    44 months ago

    I have been asking myself: what if he had say the German chancellor killed? What are we gonna do about it? Do we invade Russia because of that? I don’t think so. Alright, so what then? Send some assassins his way? Nope, not gonna happen. Probably more safety protocols for high ranking politicians and that’s it. I honestly think Putin could just get away with it.

    • @Paddzr@lemmy.world
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      184 months ago

      Yes, you do invade Rusia then because that’s what NATO was always there to do. Deter and once pushed, bring the might down onto anyone who wronged one of the members.

      • @Burn_The_Right@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        It seems no one will call Putin’s bluff. Every time Medvedev calls out specific countries that Russia will nuke if a line is crossed, the civilized world has a moral obligation to cross that line and call the bluff. We must call their bluff. Failing to call their bluff is capitulation and surrender.