VLADIMIR Putin’s GRU spies have sent a frightening message of “you will die” to a Russian pilot who escaped to Ukraine in a £15million helicopter.
Captain Maksim Kuzminov fled his home before being called a traitor for surrendering to Ukraine and accused of killing two men by Russian authorities.
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Russia made the chilling public threat to liquidate one of its own on state TV, controlled by Putin.
The 28-year-old, wildly decided to fly his Mi-8 helicopter to Ukraine in August, in a carefully staged trip that was pre-arranged with Ukrainian military intelligence.
Once Kuzminov landed in Kyiv he accused Putin of “genocide” over the brutal killing of Ukrainians and Russians in the unwanted war.
Russia has now branded him a traitor and accused him of killing his two crew mates, Nikita Kiryanov, 28, and Khushbat Tursunov, 35.
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Both didn’t agree with the dangerous trip, and had no idea they were about to be flown across the frontline leading to their apparent death, according to Russian media.
The exact circumstances are still unclear.
Russian sources also accuse his mother Inna, of secretly sorting out her son’s flight to Ukraine and has since vanished out of the country.
Kuzminov’s wife and family are believed to be with him after they were smuggled out safely.
The pilot continued to cause anger as he urged others to follow in his footsteps and leave the controversial country when they still could.
Anonymous Spetsnaz special forces officers from Russia’s GRU military were shown on TV making it clear an order had been given to get rid of Kuzminov.
State-run TV told viewers: “Not even their call signs can be made public, let alone their names.
“They’ve been through all the armed conflicts of the last 25 years.
“They speak about the destiny of Kuzminov with confidence.
“The order (to kill Captain Kuzminov) was received, its execution is a matter of time.”
One Spetsnaz officer said: “We’ll find the man and punish him for betraying his brothers to the fullest extent of our country’s law.
“Of course, we’ll find him.
“We’ll reach out to anyone, we have long arms.”
A second officer said: “He will not live until the court hearings.
“We cannot let this go.
“We’ll punish him no matter what.”
A TV military expert Sergei Zenin said the pilot had “spat on the memory of his grandfather.”
Before the defector’s former superior officer Denys Chernavyn also called him a traitor.
After leaving Russia, Kuzminov called Putin a liar and accused the dictator of genocide in a move that further annoyed the tyrant.
In a documentary on his audacious flight and surrender, he said: “I realised I was near the border.
“So I gave my location and said let’s give it a shot.
“I had made my final decision.”
He detailed his disappearance and said it had to be done based on what Russia had turned into under Putin.
Kuzminov said: “I flew at extremely low altitude in radio silent mode.
“I am very offended by what is happening now (in Ukraine).
“Murder, tears, blood.
“Just people killing each other.
“What is happening now is just genocide of the Ukrainian people, both Ukrainian and Russian.
“The basis of my action is not to contribute to these crimes.”
Kuzminov was reportedly injured when he escaped from Russia but is fine now.
Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said: “We found an approach to this Russian pilot.
“We were able to quietly take out his entire family, and then created the conditions for the flight of the aircraft.
“Now the pilot feels great, he is doing well.”
Putin is believed to have personally approved assassinations of alleged traitors by his secret services, including in Britain where two bungling officers tried to poison former GRU spy Sergei Skripal with a nerve agent called Novichok in Salisbury in 2018.
Putin has repeatedly said he won’t forgive traitors and has even reportedly ordered Russian intelligence agencies to ramp up the recruitment of “kamikaze” spies in Britain.
Wagner mercenary army chief Yevgeny Prigozhin also died in a mysterious plane crash after leading a mutiny against Putin’s regime.
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