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A Russian Mi-8 helicopter crew landed and surrendered in the Kharkiv region. (lemm.ee)
submitted 3 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by to c/ukraine@sopuli.xyz
26 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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[–] 68 points 3 years ago (1 child)

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

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  • [–] 40 points 3 years ago (2 children)

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

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  • [–] 4 points 3 years 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

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  • [–] 4 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    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.

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    • [–] 38 points 3 years ago (1 child)

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

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

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    • [–] 34 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    Smart move.

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    • [–] 30 points 3 years ago (1 child)

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

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  • [–] 22 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    Someone else said $500,000 USD

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    • [–] 16 points 3 years ago

    It will make for a good movie later.

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    [+] -19 points 3 years 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.

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  • [+] 15 points 3 years ago (2 children)
    [deleted]
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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    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.

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