Russian pilot defected to Ukraine with Mi-8 helicopter

Russian pilot stole his Mi-8 helicopter and flew to Ukraine, where he surrendered to Ukrainian special forces.

Ukrainian media reported on August 23 that a Mi-8 helicopter of the Russian Armed Forces landed in Ukraine due to a long-lasting special operation by Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate (GUR), Defence Blog reports.

Ukrainian intelligence lured a Mi-8AMTSh pilot to Ukraine. The helicopter flew between two Russian air bases and transported parts for Su-27 and Su-30SM fighters.

Along with the pilot, there were two crew members on board who did not know where the helicopter was actually flying.

The Mi-8 landed in the Kharkiv region.

As a result of the special operation, two crew members who resisted were killed.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, the Russian pilot and his family are in Ukraine, and the family was taken out of Russia in advance.

The Mi-8 remained in Ukraine, along with the parts for the fighter planes it was supposed to deliver to the Russians.