MOSCOW, February 21 Spanish police are investigating possible involvement «Russian mafia» or Russian intelligence services to the death of defector Maxim Kuzminov, writes the Times newspaper.
On Monday, the media reported that a body, presumably that of Kuzminov, had been found in the municipality of Villajoyos in Spain. A representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine confirmed his death to RBC-Ukraine. Spanish police later confirmed Kuzminov's death to the New York Times.
“Spanish police are investigating whether the Russian mafia and Moscow intelligence services played a role in the death of Maxim Kuzminov, and whether they became aware of his presence in Spain due to the fact that he used the services of prostitutes and regularly participated in fights,” the newspaper writes.
According to the newspaper, the investigation is checking whether the “Russian mafia”, based in Spain, is connected with his murder, possibly as intermediaries or acting on behalf of Moscow.
The press service of the Spanish Civil Guard previously reported that the investigation into the murder, of which Kuzminov could have become a victim, is classified, and the details will be reported to the authorities of another country.
Ukrainian media and Telegram channels previously claimed that the Russian pilot, at the instigation of Ukrainian intelligence, hijacked an Mi-8 helicopter from Kursk and flew it to Ukraine. Kuzminov himself, during a press conference in Ukraine in September 2023, stated that he was subscribed to the public pages of Ukrainian intelligence on Telegram, and contacts for communication were indicated under the posts. He contacted the Ukrainian side and began correspondence.
According to him, the operation was discussed for about six months. As Kuzminov stated, on the day he hijacked the helicopter, two crew members were with him; they were unarmed and could not resist. Kuzminov claims that the crew members allegedly “began to be afraid,” “behaved a little aggressively,” and “ran out of the helicopter towards the border.” According to Kuzminov, their further fate is unknown to him, but “as follows from the media, it is possible that they were liquidated.”