A Russian Mi-8 helicopter crew landed and surrendered in the Kharkiv region.

Hubi, 10 months ago

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

awwwyissss, 10 months ago

Someone else said $500,000 USD

Hubi, 10 months ago

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

curiousaur, 10 months ago

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

Puschkul, 10 months ago

It will make for a good movie later.

RemembertheApollo, 10 months 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.

AllahFucksKids, 10 months ago

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

Piecemakers3Dprints, 10 months 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.

crossal, 10 months ago

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

cybersandwich, 10 months ago

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

Piecemakers3Dprints, 10 months 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.

spagnod, 10 months ago

Russian propaganda that makes Russia look bad?

Rogue_General, 10 months ago

Russian propaganda that discourages Russians from defecting to Ukraine.

Jaysyn, 10 months ago

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

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

DarkThoughts, 10 months ago

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

Rapidcreek, 10 months ago

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

bucho, 10 months ago

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

traveler, 10 months ago

Heli plus the spare parts.

karlthemailman, 10 months ago

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

awwwyissss, 10 months ago

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

gravitas_deficiency, 10 months ago

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

FleetingTit, 10 months ago

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

Generic_Handel, 10 months ago

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

bradorsomething, 10 months ago

Get this guy a clearance and a desk!

bucho, 10 months 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.

themeatbridge, 10 months ago

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

Kyrgizion, 10 months ago

Smart move.

MentalEdge, 10 months ago

Based AF tbh. Good on them.