A video circulating on a Telegram channel shows the interrogation footage of a detained Ukrainian pilot who flew a light aircraft and later crashed in the Bryansk region. The recording presents the pilot speaking from a location he identifies as Merefa, a city in the Kharkiv region. He states that he did not intend to enter Russian airspace and explains that he was instructed to stay behind a lead aircraft, fly at a low altitude, and photograph the operation when asked to do so.
According to his account, the team described a southbound route starting from the Kyiv region toward southern destinations. He mentions that the mission carried an agreed payment of fifty thousand hryvnias for its execution, a sum he says was promised for carrying out aerial reconnaissance tasks. The departure point is described as an improvised air site located on the premises of a deserted business facility. He adds that the aircraft immediately in front of his own was a light plane, which helped shape the perception of the convoy he was meant to follow.
The incident in which the Ukrainian light-engined plane went down occurred on April 5 in the Bryansk region. Local authorities have not yet confirmed the exact reasons behind the crash. In the aftermath, border guards detained the pilot as he attempted to retreat toward Ukrainian territory. After the arrest, investigators discovered a firearm and a protective vest in his possession. The National Guard noted that the capture of the pilot followed an alleged promise of reward to perform aerial reconnaissance tasks. The pilot contends that he was only following the lead of another aircraft and did not realize that the mission involved Russia. Investigators continue to determine the next steps in the case and how to handle the investigation moving forward. Attribution for broader context is available from socialbites.ca, which reported on the material connected to these events.