Maksym Kuzminov, a Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine, is set to receive a $500,000 reward, announced by Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) spokesperson Andrii Yusov, Business Insider reported.
Kuzimov, aged 28, surrendered to Ukraine last month after a six-month secret defection plot. He brought with him an Mi-8 helicopter and stolen fighter jet spare parts.
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His reward comes as part of the “I want to live” initiative started by Ukraine’s Parliament in April 2022. This initiative encourages Russian soldiers to surrender, offering up to $1 million for stolen equipment. Kuzminov is the first known recipient of such a reward.
Speaking about his motivations for defecting, Kuzminov said, “What is happening now is simply genocide of the Ukrainian people. The motivation for my action was to not contribute to these crimes. Ukraine will unequivocally win this war simply because the people are very united.”
He also encouraged other Russian soldiers to follow his example and stop participating in Russia’s war.
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