Spain's EFE news agency reported that Maxim Kuzminov's body was discovered on February 13 in the southern town of Villajoyosa.
The bullet-riddled body of a Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine last year has been found in a town in southern Spain, according to Spanish and Ukrainian media.
Spain's EFE news agency said in a report on Monday that Maxim Kuzminov's body was found on February 13 in an underground garage in the town of Villajoyosa, near Alicante in southern Spain.
Kuzminov, who landed in Ukraine in an Mi-8 helicopter in August last year, was living in Spain under a different name and holding a Ukrainian passport.
A spokesman for Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency confirmed that Kuzminov died in Spain, but did not specify the cause of death. Ukraine's Ukraiska Pravda newspaper also reported that he was found shot to death.
“We can confirm the fact of his death,” Central Intelligence Directorate spokesman Andriy Yusov said in a commentary to Interfax Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Spanish police confirmed that the body of a shooting victim had been found in the town, but did not reveal the victim's identity. An official with Spain's Guardia civilian police told Reuters the victims may have been living under false identities.
Spain's La Información newspaper, which first reported the shooting, said investigators were searching for two suspects who fled in a vehicle that was later found burnt out in a nearby town. I told you.
Kuzminov's defection to Ukraine last year was presented as a major coup for Kiev. The pilot said the GUR led him into exile.
“I contacted representatives of the Ukrainian intelligence service and explained my situation. I was offered security guarantees, new documents, financial compensation and compensation. As reported by Interfax Ukraine “We discussed the details and started planning the flight,” Kuzminov said.
EFE, citing GUR sources, reported that Kuzminov decided to live in Spain instead of remaining in Ukraine.
His apparent killing in Spain came to light after Russian dissident Alexei Navalny died under suspicious circumstances in a Siberian prison.