Russian intelligence services reported that the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (GUR) tried to recruit a Russian pilot to hijack a military electronic warfare helicopter Mi-8MTPR-1 to Ukrainian territory. According to the FSB, the Ukrainian intelligence service suggested that the pilot poison his fellow servicemen in order to then fly the helicopter to Ukraine without hindrance.

In a statement released by the FSB, the Russian pilot, whose identity has not been disclosed, described how he was approached by a man named Sergei, who allegedly represented the Ukrainian secret services. According to the pilot, in exchange for cooperation, he was offered safe passage of his family abroad. The plan was for his relatives to leave Russia via Chisinau, from where they were to be taken to Ukraine.

As a result of the actions of the FSB counterintelligence, the operation was disrupted. According to Russian intelligence services, during the countermeasures, the positions of Ukrainian air defense forces and the locations of units were revealed, which then became targets for subsequent strikes.

Ukraine has already attempted to hijack military helicopters. In September 2023, Russian pilot Maxim Kuzminov flew to Ukraine after hijacking an Mi-8 from Kursk. He was accompanied by two other crew members who refused to surrender to Ukrainian forces and were killed. Kuzminov's story received wide publicity, especially after he was found murdered in Spain in February 2024. The incident caused a strong reaction - the pilot's father spoke out harshly in an interview, calling his son's actions "betrayal worthy of Judas."