The GUR just confirmed the operation. A Russian Mi-8 carrying spare parts for fighter jets was lured into Ukraine in an operation that lasted over 6 months. Two crew members (unaware where they were heading) were reportedly eliminated while the Russian pilot was kept unharmed. He is reunited with his family that was taken to Ukraine earlier.
“Official information will be forthcoming. In advance, there is such information. We need to wait a little, the work will be done, including the crew. Everything will be fine, there will be news,” said Andriy Yusov, a representative of the GUR.
If you’re going to surrender bring gifts. It’s the polite thing to do.
Especially since Ukraine will pay out a bonus. This helicopter should net the crew about $500,000.
Heli plus the spare parts.
It sounds like the crew, except for the pilot was killed? Pretty brutal for the crew. I assume there was no other option
There’s always the possibility they were in on it and were just reported killed to avoid possible retaliation against their families.
Get this guy a clearance and a desk!
Maybe there was, and maybe there wasn’t. Defecting to the country you’re at war with is an incredibly risky endeavor, especially if you’re taking ~$10m worth of military hardware with you. Could be that the crew member(s) who survived just erred on the side of caution and killed anybody they weren’t 100% sure about.
Could also be that they defected and reported that they were killed, to protect their families from retaliation.
Fuck em. These weren’t grunt conscripts force into war, they chose their path of destruction.
Ironically, these days the Ruskies couldn’t give less of a fuck about their comrades.
If a nation starts shooting at their own civilian aircraft you know something has gone seriously wrong.
He is reunited with his family that was taken to Ukraine earlier.
Threatening people’s loved ones sometimes backfires, doesn’t it Putler?
I’m curious about the background here. Were they fleeing Russia as dissidents? Were they captured conscripts? Definitely sounds like an interesting story.
Smart move.
Based AF tbh. Good on them.
What’s the reward for defecting with a helicopter? I remember planes and tanks having pretty substantial amounts listed.
Someone else said $500,000 USD
Damn, I’d get my ass to Ukraine ASAP if I were a Russian pilot.
Removed by mod
It will make for a good movie later.
I feel really bad for the guys that defect like this. There have been a few stories of defectors being traded back to Russian forces in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners. The defectors were killed and made an example of. Sucks, because if you don’t want to fight the war you have few options, and none of them good.
Is there verifiable evidence that defectors are being sent back? That sounds like Russian propaganda.
You mean, “Are there verifiable numbers for the inflow of defectors and the ongoing POW trades?”, I’m guessing? If so, now I’m curious to hear whether you intended that to be rhetorical.
Russian propaganda that makes Russia look bad?
Russian propaganda that discourages Russians from defecting to Ukraine.
Still. In that situation, the only possible good outcome is after the risk of defecting/surrendering. In every other option, you die doing the wrong thing, so if you’re going to die regardless of your ethics, might as well make it better for those that are fighting your killers. I would choose the same, dark as it may be.
How do you know they’d have died continuing to fly the chopper?
