2024-04-02 21:40:50
Kuzminov’s killers wanted to send some kind of message. Spanish investigators realized this immediately, even before they knew his identity. According to them, the killers not only shot him in a garage in southern Spain, but also ran over his body with their car. An important clue to identify them was the casings from 9-mm Makarov cartridges, characteristic of the former socialist bloc.
Kuzminov’s murder was meant to show that Russia’s European spy networks remain active against the Kremlin’s enemies. It was reminiscent of past cases including the 2019 killing of a former Chechen rebel commander in Berlin and the 2018 poisoning of former Russian intelligence agent Sergei Skripal in England.
In the past, Russia has tried to hide its connection to murders in Europe, but the Kuzminov case is an exception. Russian officials spoke about his death with undisguised joy and even made threats.
In contrast to the widespread coverage of his flight from Russia, Ukrainian authorities made little comment on his murder. This has raised concerns among senior officials who fear it could dissuade others from taking similar action.
Earlier, Kursor wrote that Russian Maxim Kuzminov, who in 2023 hijacked a military helicopter of the Russian armed forces*, was allegedly found dead in Spain. According to journalists, investigators were alerted to the discovery of a burnt-out car in the neighboring town of El Campello, where the alleged killer may have fled.
In addition, Kursor has already reported that on September 3 last year, the head of Ukrainian intelligence, Kirill Budanov, announced a special operation called “Tit”, within the framework of which it was possible to attract a Russian Mi-8AMTSh helicopter along with its crew to the territory of Ukraine.
* – until the complete victory of Ukraine, the editors of Kursor indicate all proper names of the Russian Federation and its representatives exclusively with a small letter. Death to the occupiers!