A significant amount of valuable intelligence was obtained during the special operation in which a turncoat Russian pilot flying a Mi-8 combat helicopter defected to Ukraine, Ukrainian Military Intelligence Directorate spokesman Andriy Yusov said at the press conference on Sept. 5.
Maksim Kuzminov, pilot of a Mi-8 helicopter transferred to Ukraine, was injured during the final stage of the operation but received help on time. Source: a documentary "Zbyti Lyotchyky Rossii" (Downed Pilots of Russia), shown on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast on 3 September in the evening Details: The name of the pilot was revealed in the documentary - this is 28-year-old Maksim Kuzminov.
Russian armed forces shot down a Ukrainian Mi-8 military helicopter, 24 drones and three HIMARS MLRS shells over the past 24 hours, the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry stated on Monday.
Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), has talked about how they conducted the Synytsia (Tit) special operation, where a Russian Mi-8 helicopter with its crew was transferred to Ukraine.