this post was submitted on 23 Aug 2023

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A Russian Mi-8 helicopter crew landed and surrendered in the Kharkiv region. (lemm.ee)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

27 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The GUR just confirmed the operation. A Russian Mi-8 carrying spare parts for fighter jets was lured into Ukraine in an operation that lasted over 6 months. Two crew members (unaware where they were heading) were reportedly eliminated while the Russian pilot was kept unharmed. He is reunited with his family that was taken to Ukraine earlier.

"Official information will be forthcoming. In advance, there is such information. We need to wait a little, the work will be done, including the crew. Everything will be fine, there will be news," said Andriy Yusov, a representative of the GUR.

https://t.me/noel_reports

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[–] [email protected] 68 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you're going to surrender bring gifts. It's the polite thing to do.

[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Especially since Ukraine will pay out a bonus. This helicopter should net the crew about $500,000.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (4 children)

It sounds like the crew, except for the pilot was killed? Pretty brutal for the crew. I assume there was no other option

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There's always the possibility they were in on it and were just reported killed to avoid possible retaliation against their families.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

Get this guy a clearance and a desk!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Maybe there was, and maybe there wasn't. Defecting to the country you're at war with is an incredibly risky endeavor, especially if you're taking ~$10m worth of military hardware with you. Could be that the crew member(s) who survived just erred on the side of caution and killed anybody they weren't 100% sure about.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Could also be that they defected and reported that they were killed, to protect their families from retaliation.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Fuck em. These weren't grunt conscripts force into war, they chose their path of destruction.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Ironically, these days the Ruskies couldn’t give less of a fuck about their comrades.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

If a nation starts shooting at their own civilian aircraft you know something has gone seriously wrong.

[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He is reunited with his family that was taken to Ukraine earlier.

Threatening people's loved ones sometimes backfires, doesn't it Putler?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

I'm curious about the background here. Were they fleeing Russia as dissidents? Were they captured conscripts? Definitely sounds like an interesting story.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Smart move.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago

Based AF tbh. Good on them.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What's the reward for defecting with a helicopter? I remember planes and tanks having pretty substantial amounts listed.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Someone else said $500,000 USD

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Damn, I'd get my ass to Ukraine ASAP if I were a Russian pilot.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

Right, especially if they can get your family safely there before hand.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago

It will make for a good movie later.

[+] [email protected] -19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

I feel really bad for the guys that defect like this. There have been a few stories of defectors being traded back to Russian forces in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners. The defectors were killed and made an example of. Sucks, because if you don’t want to fight the war you have few options, and none of them good.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago

Untrue, any Russian in Ukranian captivity can refuse to be in prisoner swaps.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Is there verifiable evidence that defectors are being sent back? That sounds like Russian propaganda.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

You mean, "Are there verifiable numbers for the inflow of defectors and the ongoing POW trades?", I'm guessing? If so, now I'm curious to hear whether you intended that to be rhetorical.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Russian propaganda that makes Russia look bad?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Russian propaganda that discourages Russians from defecting to Ukraine.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Still. In that situation, the only possible good outcome is after the risk of defecting/surrendering. In every other option, you die doing the wrong thing, so if you're going to die regardless of your ethics, might as well make it better for those that are fighting your killers. I would choose the same, dark as it may be.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

How do you know they'd have died continuing to fly the chopper?