The spokesman for Ukraine’s intelligence service, Andriy Yusov, confirmed to The Washington Submit on Tuesday that the physique was that of Kuzminov.
Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s Nationwide Safety and Protection Council, warned that the assassination may embolden Russians to take extra such actions.
“If the Russians really feel so empowered inside the European Union that they begin killing individuals, the query turns into fairly advanced. This isn’t the primary occasion the place Russians behave this fashion,” he informed Ukrainska Pravda late Monday.
Spain’s Inside Ministry wouldn’t affirm the id of the physique, which it described as bullet riddled, however acknowledged in a press release that additional investigation into the case was wanted. Investigators had initially believed the one who died was a Ukrainian by a unique identify.
“In the middle of the investigation that’s being carried out, it has come to our consideration that the id of this particular person might be false and might be that of one other particular person. The Guardia Civil is continuing to confirm this, however we’re unable to supply any additional info at the moment,” it mentioned.
Spanish media cited sources contained in the Guardia Civil confirming that the physique belonged to Kuzminov.
On the Russian facet, some have already been celebrating the dying. Professional-Kremlin blogger Sergei Markov posted on Telegram that Kuzminov was “eradicated.”
“We won’t rejoice in anybody’s dying. However this information can save many lives, as a result of it reminds everybody: save your lives and by no means cooperate with the Ukrainian neo-fascist regime in something,” he mentioned.
Sergei Naryshkin, the pinnacle of Russia’s international intelligence service, mentioned Tuesday that Kuzminov was lifeless the second he began planning his defection. “In Russia, it is not uncommon to talk effectively of the lifeless or nothing in any respect. This traitor and legal turned an ethical corpse already in the intervening time when he was planning his soiled and horrible crime.”
A month after the announcement about his defection, Russian tv aired a 10-minute documentary by which consultants opined that Kuzminov should have killed his fellow servicemen within the helicopter in the course of the operation, and vowed revenge.
In keeping with this system, Russia’s navy intelligence, generally known as GRU, had already obtained an order to eradicate him. “He won’t reside to see the trial,” mentioned a fighter with this face hidden on the present.
Ukraine introduced with nice fanfare in August an intelligence operation that persuaded Kuzminov to fly his Mi-8 helicopter loaded with jet components into Ukraine to defect. The 2 crew members with him had been unaware of the plot and had been shot by Ukrainian forces once they refused to give up, in accordance with officers.
The Ukrainian authorities later introduced that the pilot had obtained a $500,000 reward in native forex and inspired different Russian service members to observe go well with.
Paul Schemm in London contributed to this report.
