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

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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 2 years ago

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

[-] [email protected] 40 points 2 years ago

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

[-] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

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 2 years ago

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 2 years ago

Get this guy a clearance and a desk!

[-] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

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 2 years ago

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

[-] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

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

[-] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

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

[-] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

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

[-] [email protected] 38 points 2 years ago

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 2 years 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 2 years ago

Smart move.

[-] [email protected] 20 points 2 years ago

Based AF tbh. Good on them.

[-] [email protected] 30 points 2 years ago

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

[-] [email protected] 22 points 2 years ago

Someone else said $500,000 USD

[-] [email protected] 18 points 2 years ago

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

[-] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago

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

[-] [email protected] 16 points 2 years ago

It will make for a good movie later.

[+] [email protected] -19 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

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 2 years ago

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

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

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.