Maksim Kuzminov, the 28-year-old Russian pilot of the Mi-8 helicopter who surrendered to Ukraine after landing in a Ukrainian airfield on Aug. 23, called on other Russian pilots to follow his example.
Maksim Kuzminov, the 28-year-old Russian pilot of the Mi-8 helicopter who surrendered to Ukraine after landing in a Ukrainian airfield on Aug. 23, called on other Russian pilots to follow his example.
Can someone explain how a Russian helicopter can land in UA airfield without being shot down/at? It’s not like you can wave a white flag up there
The pilot made Ukrainian special services aware of his intend to surrender. There was a corridor organized for him.
I have read in another article that the pilot was somehow shot and injured in the process, it’s unclear why.
It happens all the time, there are procedures and ways to signal.
I know couple of similar instances, even more extreme than this, that worked out.
According to him, he contacted the HUR - presumably via a secret chat on Telegram - and they planned for half a year. The helicopter was shot at when crossing the border, but he believes it likely came from the Russian side. Also worth noting that he didn’t land in an airfield. The helicopter was moved to an airfield in Kyiv after the fact.