The Government did not know that the Russian pilot killed in Villajoyosa was in Spain

Efe / Europa Press

Updated Thursday, February 22, 2024-13:18

• Russia A Russian pilot who defected to avoid going to war in Ukraine is found shot dead in Spain

• War in Ukraine The Russian spy chief assures that the defecting pilot killed in Spain was a "traitor"

The

Government

was not aware that

Maxim Kuzmíkov

, the Russian pilot who deserted last August to surrender to the Ukrainian Army with the helicopter he was driving and who was shot dead on the 13th in Villajoyosa (Alicante), was in Spain.

This was stated to journalists this Thursday by the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, in Aldea del Fresno (Madrid) after visiting the bridge installed by the Army in this municipality.

"He came freely and

the Government had no evidence

that this person was here in Spain," Margarita Robles explained.

The Kremlin has no information regarding the alleged murder of the pilot, whom a senior Russian Intelligence official calls a "traitor."

Nor has the Russian Embassy in Madrid wanted to comment on the matter, according to Europa Press.