"We were able to find the right approach" - Budanov told how it was possible to lure the Mi-8 pilot together with the helicopter
3 hours ago
In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL, the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, confirmed the special operation carried out with the Russian Mi-8 helicopter and gave details.
"We were able to find the right approach to the man, we were able to create the conditions to take out the whole family unnoticed, and ultimately create the conditions so that he was able to overrun this aircraft with a crew that did not know what was going on. When they realized where they had landed, they tried to run away. Unfortunately, they were destroyed, we would like to (take them) alive, but we have what we have," said Budanov in a conversation with Angelika Rudenko, a correspondent of the Radio Liberty Crimea. Realia project.
According to the head of GUR, the helicopter is currently in Kyiv. Budanov added that it will be possible to see the helicopter and talk to its pilot after the release of the "official movie".
"The pilot feels great, everything is fine with him. He has two options, but he is inclined to be here (in Ukraine - ed.)," adds Kyrylo Budanov, but does not disclose the motivation of the Russian pilot.
The head of the GUR calls this operation one of the best carried out by his department in the entire history of Ukraine.
Russian blogger Fighterbomber reported on August 23 about the Russian Mi-8 helicopter, which allegedly landed at an air base near Poltava a few weeks ago. According to him, the crew lost their orientation for some reason - maybe it was a "radio game", maybe a failure of navigation.
Ukrainian journalist Yurii Butusov wrote on Facebook that "Censor.net" sources in the leadership of the Armed Forces confirm the information about the arrival of a Russian Mi-8 helicopter at one of the air bases of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"The helicopter is completely intact and will be added to the composition of the Armed Forces after a detailed study of its equipment. We are waiting for information about the crew members," he wrote.
Before that, Yuriy Butusov called this story "legendary". In his opinion, "there can be no coincidences" here.
"If the helicopter flew to the Poltava airfield, as the Russian blogger reported, then it is located approximately 300 km from the front line, and the Russians could only land there knowingly, as a result of a well-prepared flight. The helicopter flies at a low altitude, at a low speed, and the crew can clearly see all ground landmarks, it is simply impossible to make a mistake by 300 km, this is a large consumption of fuel. There can be no accidents," the journalist pointed out.
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