Fears of Vladimir Putin assassins at large as Russian defector murdered in Spain

22 February 2024 , 10:05

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Kuzminov was gunned down in Spain, where he'd been living in hiding (Image: MASH / East2west news)

Following the apparent assassination of a Russian defector there are now fears that Vladimir Putin's assassins are at large in Spain.

Maxim Kuzminov defected to Ukraine during Kyiv's war with the Kremlin - flying over the frontlines in a Mi8 helicopter after planning the jump with the country’s intelligence services. The 28-year-old became a public face after the defection and held a press conference before he was seemingly whisked away and put into hiding.

That was until, on February 13, his bullet-riddled body was discovered in Spain - something Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Ukraine’s spy service, confirmed to the country’s media. Kuzminov’s body was found in the entrance to a residential complex in La Cala, near the eastern port city of Alicante. Documents found on him identified him as a 33-year-old Ukrainian.

The attack took place just ten miles from Benidorm and The Sun reported that the ammunition used was distinctively Russian - believed to have been a purposeful "calling card". It is feared Kuzminov was assassinated by a hit squad who now still be at large at Spain or in continental Europe.

This comes as today, Spanish media reported that the country's intelligence service believed Russia was behind the attack. The only doubt is reportedly over which Russia body, the foreign intelligence service, federal security service or military intelligence service, carried out the attack.

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El Pais added that the gunman likely arrived from outside Spain, committed the attack and has since fled the country. Kuzminov was shot six times and ran over in the attack and it was reported that his fatal error may have been inviting his ex-girlfriend to visit him - Spanish media reported that this call could have been intercepted, leading to his untimely demise.

This comes as Russia's war against Ukraine continues unabated as it approaches its two year anniversary. Fighting is ongoing with thousands to have died in the years since the Kremlin marched into eastern Ukraine back on February 24, 2022.

Kuzminov flew over the frontlines in a Russian chopper to defect (1+1 Ukraine/e2w)

Recently, Ukraine lost Avdiivka, an eastern town nine miles northwest of the Russian-held city of Donetsk. In an interview with Fox News, Volodymyr Zelensky defended the loss but admitted it had been a "complicated" year for his country.

He said: "During these two years we got [back] part of the Kharkiv region. Now we are in this region... and we unblocked the Black Sea. There are grain routes and we destroyed a lot of their ships of the Russian fleet. That is what we did over two years. And what they could do? Only this one place. But what for?"

There are now fears the squad who shot Kuzminov six times and ran him over could still be at large in Spain (@wagnersfamily/X)

But he also added that he had grown concerned over the slowdown in aid for Ukraine’s war effort. He said: "We have to be more quick. That means to lose all the bureaucracy. Otherwise we will not have any chance."

Aid has not flowed as freely from western countries as it initially did, raising concerns of Ukraine's ability to continue the war, as the fighting has settled almost into a stalemate with neither side making significant progress.

Kieren Williams