Ukraine has even promised rewards of up to one million dollars to Russian military personnel who manage to transfer military equipment to Ukraine.
The Kiev Independent reported yesterday that a helicopter pilot who defected from Russia to Ukraine will receive a reward of $500,000, according to Andrii Yusov, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military intelligence.
Ukrainian media reported the defection of 28-year-old Maxim Kuzminov a couple of weeks ago.
During a press conference held in Kyiv, the pilot stated that he defected because he did not want to participate in the crimes of Russian forces in Ukraine. He mentioned that he had contacted Ukrainian representatives himself. He was promised security guarantees, a reward, and new identity documents in exchange for his defection.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense revealed that intelligence had assisted the pilot in flying a Mil Mi-8 transport helicopter to Ukraine and landing at an agreed-upon airport. The basis for the reward to the pilot is specifically related to transporting the helicopter to Ukraine.
Ukraine has promised rewards of up to one million dollars to Russian military personnel who successfully transfer military equipment or supplies to Ukraine. The amount of the reward depends on the value of the transported equipment.
The Ukrainian parliament passed the law regarding these rewards in April 2022, as reported by The Kiev Independent.
He could have relatives on Ukrainian side.
Just on look at his face and I tell you he is Ukrainian. Pozzed Russians still play " friendship of nation" leftist bullshit and letting Ukrainians migrants into their ranks.
What I understand most Ukrainian and russians have families on the other side, it's going to be very awkward after the war
I think those family connections are now thoroughly severed. The Russian relatives may as well be dead to the Ukrainian ones and are probably going to be cut out of any inheritance.
>people fully support their government at all times
Kek, there will be plenty of Russians trying to get into Ukraine to reunite with their families after this.
Is there any confirmation that he was indeed a russian pilot or is there a chance he's an actor? Because all I see is "Ukraine says..."
Russian sources acknowledge it too. Fighterbomber was seething about it on telegram recently.
>huge story about Russian pilot getting Mi-8 to Ukraine, Russians seething about it for days
>with images of a heli and everything
>ALL I SEE "UKRAINE SAYS" NO PROOOOOOOOOOF, WHERE AREEEEEEEEE PROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOFS
>everything that shows Russia losing is le fake!!!
Is there any confirmation you got a chin, nazi 4chan prick?
I literally saw Russian article that had an interview with a guy who served with this defector lmao
bro just didn't want a video of his fiery death reposted thousands of times.
Why dont we see kino shit like this from russia
because phone is potato
with potato camera
We do, on telegram.
Check out Intel Slava Z for the good pics western media is trying to bury
Much obliged
lol i remember when 4chanshitskins tried too debnuk this video and claimed its was just military exercise in Poland
>and new identity documents in exchange for his defection.
>During a press conference
Why? Guy should get some minor plastic surgery, and just vanish into the night. This kind of defeats the whole purpose. It's entirely possible he'll get a visit with some polonium tea at some point.
it is a huge pr stunt to encourage more defectors obviously
It's PR to encourage more defections.
He can vanish later.
Why wouldn't zelensky just steal the money from the ministry of Columbidae breeding or something? Why kill a high profile defector?
>is there a chance he's an actor?
Next to none. He's got his face an a name out there, if they don't match up it'll be trivial to show that.
Ukie families get $135k USD for KIA, Russians get a Lada ($10k USD).
You are projecting so hard it's impressive.
id love a lada tbh
Lada’s are really interesting cars as they’re the only ones that get more valuable as you put miles on them.
Russian manufacturing is so shit that people will pay more for a car that’s been driven 5-10,000 km than brand new because by then they usually have most of the shit the factory forgot or decided not to do fixed.
>drives into wall 20km/h
>dead
>drives into wall 20km/h
well don't do that
What's the greatest dream of a lada driver?
A speeding ticket : DDDDDD
How much does an Mi-8 cost? More than $500,000? If so, good deal.
https://www.aircraft24.com/helicopter/mil/mi-8--xm1183.htm
That is some interesting price variety. If they really do cost like 5-10 mil though, very good deal.
It's the difference between maintained and registered vs "it's been sitting in a field for 30 years, as is".
At least this one was proven flyworthy lmao
Yeah, even with the worst Russian maintiance it'll be worth at least $2m because the engines run.
I was working on Mil-8T. Used in a great shape it's like 5kk, used in worst shame is ~2.5kk.
But also train pilot is pain in azzz in Pussia (it takes around 7 years for mil pilot).
>pilot
It sounds like he doesn't want to fly combat missions, but I bet he agreed to work as a trainer at least. Plus all the intel he's got, and the MASSIVE propaganda victory this is, well that's worth 500k before even mentioning the physical chopper
Well it's at least -1 pilot for Ru doesn't matter if he train UA dudes lol
>I was working on Mil-8T. Used in a great shape it's like 5kk, used in worst shame is ~2.5kk.
Mi-8AMTSh =/= Mil-8T
I didn't claim it is lol, just saying I was on the market back then (~10 years ago tho)
They're workhorse helis, and really god damn cool. I hope Ukraine starts making up some refined models. Actually I hope post-war Ukraine mixes and matches the best NATO and Russian gear and starts supplying it.
I was going to talk shit about them because soviet garbage, but goddamn if every single Western military accident doesn't start and end with a helicopter.
Helicopters aren't meant to fly like a plane is and do so by constantly taking a dump in the face of aerodynamics. They're useful enough to be worth it, but they're much more inherently dangerous and the US mil has a whole fucking lot of them flying around to accrue accidents on.
not just monetary win.
any equipment that cannot be used against the ukies is a win for the ukies
Russian helicopters are incredibly cheap, mi8 is old. There was talk off in us Congress to buy and supply afghan forces with Russian equipment cos it's cheaper and buy and run once.
I think he might have gotten money due to the jet engine he was carrying.
See
They aren't that cheap.
Cheap is a relative term
>Civilian Black Hawks are known as the Sikorsky S-70 and cost approximately $13 million new.
>AF pays up to $26 million
True but either way $500k is a steal.
Thanks I see but how much are american and other helicopters cost compared to an mi 8
Who cares and how this changes the price of Mil-8?
Just curious I still think russian stuff is way cheaper then american stuff due to russians not having that much electronics. I also hear russian stuff is easy to run and train people on.
The Mi-8 costs more than a Heuy but it's a lot more helicopter for the price.
Russian stuff is cheaper but not an order of magnitude cheaper.
Why would you compare a utility chopper with a scout chopper?
A Huey is small an mi8 can do lot more. What you said makes no sense. It's like comparing a van with a sports car just two different things?
The interview with him is interesting. He basically says that they are accepting anyone to be trained as transport pilots now and send on missions after a weeks training. Pilots are also being heavily overworked right now, which also contributed to him wanting to leave. I could see not wanting to get your joints fucked up for life for $1k a month and just selling the helicopter for $500k.
>He basically says that they are accepting anyone to be trained as transport pilots now and send on missions after a weeks training.
during Prigogine trip to Moscow one of ACK-52 they shot down had 22 y/o pilot, so kind of confirms they desperate need for pilots
Isn't early 20s like peak pilot age? I can't imagine being a pilot in my 30s. I can barely see what I'm writing right now and I'll probably fall over and not be able to get back up when I go to make dinner in a bit.
I dont think you can even get an airline pilot license before you're 25. Most pilots are considerably older.
22 is young but not impossible, here in Aust you can get your pilots licence at 16 so if you signed up at 18 with 2 years flying experiance I could see them having you in a fighter within 4 years.
A more normal timeline would be join at 18 with no experiance, get pilot selection by 20, 4 years of training for wings at 24.
>Isn't early 20s like peak pilot age?
It is . Hartmann started fighting at 20, at 22 age he had 200 hundred kills under his belt.
But.
Modern education system plus rising complexity of aviation knowledge doesn't allow pilots to start at 20.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24718593/
(Also fun fact: The average age of professional CS:GO players is around 23).
Bro, do you even PrepHole? I'm 31 and I'm in the best shape I've been in a decade.
Everything hurts though. All the time. So I get your point but you should take care of yourself
It's actually a fucking great deal and PR stunt and something to think about if you are a Russian wagie pilot.
Also didn't this guy killed his crew too?
Apparently, but he doesn't seem hardcore enough to execute the crew. They are probably just saying that so Russia doesn't mutilate their families.
We've discussed this a million times. Russians just look like that, they will still gladly murder-rape entire villages.
And lying about dead crew makes no sense, Russians will still arrest and torture all of them.
opinion based on russian projection and life experience from coutry ruled by mobsters.
>Hey we will make a big deal about this pilot
>And then we'll kill him
You are retarded anon, they could've just killed him if they wanted to
the main impact of this isn't the gear you get and the ammo you save in not having to engage it.
but in further socking the paranoia of russian command
You're also forgetting the people who that gear doesn't kill, but pic related applies
>but in further socking the paranoia of russian command
wrong, biggest impact is in showing other Russians that it's possible to surrender and get money
Now we know why he killed the crew. Dead men don't need to split the cash.
I get the shark, but who is the cat ears one supposed to be?
I dont get knew bit of this comic please explain what its about?
500,000$ is considered a fortune especially in Eastern Europoor, god I wish I were a Russian pilot right about now, I need the money so bad.
>go to Russia
>volunteer as heli pilot
>sell heli to ukraine
>???
>PROFIT!
New get rich fast scheme just dropped
>go to Russia
>volunteer as heli pilot
>end up digging trenches without being supplied for a year, with nothing but weekly chechen rape for motivation
>sell the trench shovel to Ukraine
Sigma grindset my man
Half a mil USD in Eastern Europe will set you and your family for life. You can buy and rent out many properties and live off the rent alone, or invest half and live off the other half, it's crazy good money.
The dude better not squander it away on vodka or some shit.
>500,000$ is considered a fortune especially in Eastern Europoor,
500k USD is a shitload of money to any median person in any place in the world. I'm pretty damn well off, and it'd still be a life-altering amount of money.
Hello propaganda guy.
>be Mi-8
> "reward depends on the value of the transported equipment"
> only worth half the max bounty
both sad and ... well, it's a rather sad end for the old girl
but, she did survive the war, so maybe we can visit her in a museum later
>she did survive the war
You really think Ukraine isn't going to put her back in the fight?
I was kind of banking on an Mi-8 not being a high-value copter for the Ukies. If they do use her, maybe to probably it'll be in a low-risk support capacity. Vaguely, I was lamenting all the other history being destroyed forever each day. In 20 years, this might be the last, or one of the last five or so Mi-8s anywhere.
At least she's not in monke's paw anymore, so wish her luck. That's a treasured piece of history right there now.
Don't the Mexicans have a bunch that they're looking to donate to Ukraine? It's also not some super unique piece of history design, it's just another chopper and not even an iconic one like a Hind.
>this might be the last, or one of the last five or so Mi-8s anywhere.
Are you retarded?
>I was lamenting all the other history being destroyed forever each day
>In 20 years, this might be the last, or one of the last five or so Mi-8s anywhere
Anon stop being retarded, you are pretending to be worrried about one of the most produced choppers in history.
https://www.aircraft24.com/helicopter/mil/mi-8--xm1183.htm
>this might be the last, or one of the last five or so Mi-8s anywhere.
Yeah, no. Mi-8s are all over the globe from military use to firefighting to giving rides to tourists. I took a ride in one when visiting a national park in Turkey a year ago. They'll be around in active use for decades even if every single one in Ukrainian, Russian and Belarusian service were to perish tomorrow.
It doesn't have a cunt so why to you mentally ill morons so crave to genderize dead metal?
It's a posablity due ukies probably need every aircraft they can get their hands on
>she did survive the war
War is not over yet
Seems like a pretty good time for some Russian in a Flanker to retire to Ukraine.
>https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/france-is-considering-transferring-fighter-aircraft-to-ukraine
I just cannot relate with this mentality. The mentality of the traitor. You have one life in this world below, then all of your money is gone. Then what? Then you go down as the Benedict Arnold of the war, as the cliché turncoat and traitor.
In many cases, when you move to another country, you have to give up or renounce your allegiance to the United States. I just couldn't do that, legally or otherwise. The idea of betraying my nation feels like a betrayal of my character and my duty to my people. Something about it just feels deeply wrong.
Then again, these are conscripts being forced into the war for an invasion that no one asked for and is not going as planned.
>You have one life in this world below, then all of your money is gone. Then what?
You lived as a free man on your feet refusing to do the bidding of the ruling class.
If your leaders say die only a fool wouldn't ask why.
I wouldn't want to die a fool, but I'm going to die one way or another. May as well die historic on the field of honor. Then again, I'm not a Russian being forced into a criminal war, so who am I to say from comfort and security?
>May as well die historic on the field of honor.
Prigogine thought the same, then his own government blew him out of skies and buried him secretly
>May as well die historic on the field of honor
What is honorable about dying in a ram raid on a liquor shop and how isn't this war the geopolitical equivalent?
>May as well die historic on the field of honor.
Why do you imagine that exists?
>and my duty to my people.
Anon his people are Ukanians. His ancestors nationallity is literally written on his round bun face.
>The idea of betraying my nation feels like a betrayal of my character and my duty to my people
That's why I imagine it's not easy to stomach, once you realize that your nation is betraying your ideals and is fighting for the wrong cause.
Honestly that's why I even have a little bit pf understanding for vatniks. It's not easy to realize/admit that you have been wrong all your life and going full defensive mode is a natural reaction.
The Russian empire is an Asiatic disease you dumb moron, not your obviously autistic idea of a nation.
You are not a traitor if your nation betrays you first.
>You have one life in this world
Go die in a fucking trench then
>renounce your allegiance to the United States
t. Jhon Smitovich of Ohio oblast
>Be Russian Mobik
>Bosses always stealing from you
>No NVG because it was stolen and sold to airsoft LARPers
>No mould-free-FAK because the money to replace it was stolen and spent on a yacht
>No CASEVAC because bosses do not care that you are bleeding to death in a hole
>Decide it's your turn
>Steal the bosses helicopter and sell it
>Get a cushy job flying tourist flights over Greece or somewhere sunny
>fall from the window
By who? GRU is going to be gutted by the end of the war, and European counter intel will be back up to Cold War status.
>B-but..
Is the MiG-25 defector dead? Or is he living comfortably in the US? Cope.
>$500,000
It used to be 30 silver, fucking inflation! Thx O’Biden!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=g9ZSjvlk0hU
>new identity documents
is this really going to help him when he is on tv with his face exposed?
Depends how good the ukrainian version of witsec is.
Bold of you to assume Ukraine has witsec at all.
I think Ukie witsec will be "hey Poland can you let this guy in?"
He can get plastic surgery, like shaving off the jawbones and 99.9% wont be able to recognise him.
>If you want someone to get their comeuppance or want to make someone angry, simply get rich
solid life advice, my guy.
>the plan
>take off without notice
>shoot remaining crew
>surrender to ukraine
>???
>profit
I wonder how long it'll be before other people catch on to this one simple trick and start making passive income on their investment of two kills and one helicopter.
Is there a video of an interview with this guy anywhere? Would be really interesting.
In general defecting, especially in a vehicle sounds scary as fuck, even if this was done with the help of the Ukie secret service, what's to say that an overly eager soldier with a MANPADS doesn't shoot him down on the way.
>Mi-8 for 500k
Fucking hell, hell of a deal for a simple but robust helicopter
Robust, yes. Simple? Load it up in DCS, it's that awkward vintage where it has computers but those computers are complicated as hell to drive similar to the F-14 which is way more complex than the F-16 or F-18.
>russian heli pilots arent typically armed
He Killed thise other two crew members with his bare hands didnt he?
Has it been confirmed that he killed them?
All the sources I read just said that they had been neutralized and one Ukie source I just saw said that they had been shot once they tried to flee, which implies that it happened after they had landed.
The flight plan filed with the SBU only lists Shmi, Mymen, and the Pilot.
Wasn't there rumors about the chopper being loaded with fighter jet parts as well?
For someone being so fond of it, you seem to ignore his value for propaganda.
Russia lost 2 pilots and a flight engineer, Ukraine brough a Mi-8 at ~1/16th market value.
I know you need to pretend everything is a loss for Ukraine but this really isn't.
No way this guy doesn't get assassinated. Didn't they yoink that turncoat Wagner cuck from Kyiv last year?
that was 100% bullshit, the guy probably got sent back on a pow exchange
Anons, I wonder abt this ukr strategy. Perhaps it will turn out to be as simple as paying of some of the dumb rus human trash. They are after all quite primitive as they were stealing washing machines for 300 USD.
Will it work though? Is this a good way to wage info war?
They got a chopper at ~1/16th market value, do you think buying military vehicles from the enemy at bargain prices is a bad move?
It's more that 2 times that though, since Russia also lost one + a trained pilot + the 2 dead zigs
It's even better than that, they lost 2 trained pilots and a flight engineer.
>webm
you're not even hiding how miffed you are.
shouldn't have posted at all until you calmed down you impulsive little gutter monkey lmao.
I don't think people understand how well this appeals to the Russian cultural mindset.
In Russia, when you are put in charge of something, say, an office for example, you are more or less considered the owner of everything in that office.
This means you can sell off/take home whatever's there for your own benefit.
Now imagine you're a helicopter pilot, in charge of flying a helicopter, and you've just learned you have an excellent deal, paying well above your pay grade, and all you have to do is bump off your two incompetent subordinates and land your bird in a different airfield.
This deal is quite literally designed to be the most seductive arrangement for anyone with a Russian cultural background and this man just became the single greatest advertisement for their program.
>b-but muh patriotism
If you're smart enough to be a competent pilot, which you would need to be at this point to have not been killed, you're smart enough to know 500k and a new life in anywhere other than Russia is better than anything else you could ever hope for.
absolutely this
Kek, literally who gives a fuck, literally who cares? I would be laughing my ass off while sitting on my comfy expensive sofa in my private villa watching these retarded "nationalist" poorfags seething and crying from their cockroach infested shitboxes. They would do the same thing if given the opportunity, they're just mad they couldn't get some so they cope by screaming at you.
Its because Russians have a personalist, patrimonialist culture. Latin America is the same way.
I remember reading that the Americans were thinking of doing this with Iranian oil tankers. I’ve heard of historical cases of traitors being paid to defect, but this seems like a relatively novel tactic.
It seems like the play here is going to be the North Korean model - if you run away, we kill everyone you ever cared about.
Not sure about that but I was hearing no ship was sized and the arms were taken and given to the Ukrainians recently so it's not just being given money it's happening already
Mark my words.
After a few more years of this war Russia will copy the three generations rule from best Korea.
>you fucking moron
why you fucking fucking even fucking post this you fucking fuck then? What the fuck?
Late in the thread but a video interview about it