Spanish intelligence services indicate that two individuals are implicated in the death of Maxim Kuzminov, a Russian pilot who piloted a Mi-8 helicopter into Ukraine. Local outlets report that the incident remains under tight guard, and officials in Spain describe the case as the work of two hired killers. The exact circumstances are still being investigated, and details are being treated as sensitive by the authorities involved. The reporting suggests a deliberate, targeted act rather than a random accident, though verification remains ongoing.
Kuzminov was discovered in Spain on February 19. Reports indicate that he sustained six gunshot wounds and was subsequently struck by a vehicle. The sequence of events is still the subject of official scrutiny, and information available in the public domain is fragmentary and sometimes inconsistent. The case has drawn attention to broader questions about cross-border investigations and the handling of high-profile security incidents in foreign jurisdictions.
In 2023 Kuzminov reportedly took control of a Russian military Mi-8 helicopter from an airport in Kursk and flew toward the Kharkiv region. Anonymous Russian military intelligence sources in October 2023 are quoted as saying that an order had been issued concerning the pilot. As these statements come from unnamed officials, they are treated as unverified by many observers, and official Russian or Spanish channels have not provided a definitive public account of the operation or its aftermath.
Subsequent reporting identified Kuzminov under the alias Igor Shevchenko. The newspaper El Periodico published an image that purportedly showed a Ukrainian passport associated with that name. This development has fueled speculation about the extent of identity changes and the possible use of forged or altered documents in relation to the case. The implications touch on issues of asylum, border controls, and the reliability of document trails in high-stakes foreign incidents.
Earlier coverage in Spain referenced allegations that officials may have participated in the forgery of Kuzminov’s asylum documentation. The claims point to potential complicity at multiple levels and raise questions about how asylum processes are monitored and safeguarded in contexts involving individuals linked to sensitive or covert operations. At present, authorities have not released a comprehensive public account detailing the full chain of custody for Kuzminov, the timeline of events, or the specific actions taken by any government actors. The case continues to unfold in a climate of secrecy, with investigators pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to establish responsibility and motive, while the international implications of the investigation remain a focal point for policymakers and security analysts alike. Attribution: El Periodico and other corroborating outlets have reported on various aspects of the case, but the full picture remains opaque as formal inquiries proceed.