Latest news with #Kuzminov
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Putin 'assassination' near Benidorm as police probe body found floating in pool
Police in Spain are investigating the death of a Ukrainian who was found in a pool near Benidorm - cops reportedly believe Vladimir Putin's assassins may be responsible Authorities in Spain are looking into whether a top Ukrainian official was assassinated near the popular tourist spot of Benidorm. The death of 61-year-old Igor Hrushevsky comes after a defected Russian helicopter pilot was assassinated in the same gated residential estate nearly 18 months ago. Hrushevsky, a former employee of Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, was found lifeless , bleeding from one ear and face down in the pool by a Ukrainian neighbour at around 9:30pm on June 29. The passer-by pulled him from the water and performed CPR and called paramedics, but nothing could be done to save him. Civil Guard investigators initially said Hrushevsky's death was being treated as an accident. They said that 'no evidence' suggested it was a crime. Sources suggested Hrushevsky, who had been living at the La Cala Alta complex since February this year, had died from drowning. But overnight, leading Spanish news website El Espanol reported Spain's CNI intelligence agency, the equivalent of Britain's MI5 and MI6 combined, was now investigating whether killers working for Vladimir Putin could have been behind another targeted Costa Blanca assassination. The CNI never talks about ongoing operations, while the Civil Guard in Alicante is yet to respond. Citing sources in the intelligence services, El Espanol said agents are looking into whether there is a link between Hrushevsky's death and that of Maxim Kuzminov. Kuzminov, branded a traitor by Moscow after defecting to Ukraine in 2023. He was shot six times around 5pm after being chased from the second floor of a basement car park underneath the La Cala Alta large residential estate. No arrests have been made in connection with Kuzminov's killing. Spanish police concluded he could have been killed by hitmen working for Russian intelligence. 'As this is a matter concerning national security and the activities of an intelligence service, the members of the centre investigating this matter are doing so with the utmost discretion, independently of any investigation that may be carried out by the Civil Guard,' El Espanol said. 'A discovery of this nature would prove that both crimes were committed in the same way, by professional hitmen working for organised crime, but carrying out a contract paid for by the Russian intelligence services.' A local living in the apartment complex said it was 'clear' Hrushevsky, whom reports say was once the head of the organised crime department in the central Cherkasy and Kirovohrad regions, 'didn't drown'. Identified only as 'Blanca', the resident said 'the water only comes up to my neck and I'm a short person'. Regarding Kuzminov's killing, a car thought to have been driven by a getaway driver was later found burnt out in nearby El Campello. He had been using a false identity which initially led investigators to believe he was a 33-year-old Ukrainian national.. Spanish press said Kuzminov's undoing could have been a call to an ex-girlfriend inviting her to Alicante, a favourite with Russians and Ukrainians who have made their homes on the Costa Blanca. Putin placed Kuzminov on his most-wanted list after he was paid a reported £400,000 to steal a Mi-8 armoured Russian military chopper in a major propaganda coup for Ukraine. Two crew members were killed after landing.
The Irish Sun
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Top Ukrainian ex-official found DEAD in pool at same Spain complex as assassinated Putin defector pilot who fled Russia
A FORMER Ukrainian official has been found dead at the same spot where a defected Russian chopper pilot was assassinated. Igor Hrushevsky, an ex-employee of Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, was mysteriously Spain . 8 Maxim Kuzminov was a Russian who defected to Ukraine Credit: Wikipedia 8 A swimming pool in the residential area of La Cala de Villajoyosa, where both Hrushevsky and Kuzminov were found dead Credit: Darren Fletcher 8 The chopper pilot is said to have been assassinated by thr Russians 8 Kuzminov was on Putin's most-wanted list after being paid a reported £400,000 to steal his Russian military chopper and defect to Ukraine Credit: Wikipedia Ihor was swimming in the pool of a residential complex called Cala Alta in Villajoyosa, south of It is the same building where was apparently shot dead after he defected to Ukraine in an Mi-8 helicopter. The Kremlin was accused of carrying out Hrushevsky was found face down in the water, with no signs of life. more on Russia Though he was bleeding from one ear. Locals rushed to pull him out of the water and performed CPR, but failed to save his life, according to local media outlet The cause of death has not been revealed yet. Hrushevsky's death comes just 18 months after Russian defector Kuzminov was killed inside a garage allegedly by Putin's hitmen. Most read in The US Sun Ruben, a local worker, told The Sun he discovered the army captain, 28, in a pool of blood soon after what is believed to have been a brazen Kremlin-ordered hit job. The ruthless despot's hitmen are said to have Ukraine in August 2023. From 'moving' corpse & corruption scandal to quick 'suicide' story: 5 glaring questions in gun death of Putin minister The Sun was given access to the eerie murder scene yesterday, where He was dispatched in cold blood by six shots from a pistol believed to have been fitted with a silencer just a 10 minute drive from Benidorm's party strip. We walked his final steps around 50 metres to the spot where his body was found just short of the parking garage's electrically-operated metal doors. Kuzminov was on Putin's most-wanted list after being paid a reported £400,000 to steal his Russian military chopper in a major propaganda coup for Ukraine . He had been given a new identity and joined a large community of Russian speakers living in and around Benidorm using a Ukrainian passport with the name Igor Shevchenko. Ukraine's military intelligence later confirmed it had courted him to defect, as Kuzimov appealed to other pilots to follow his lead. In an interview broadcast by Ukraine's authorities, Kuzimov said: "I contacted representatives of Ukrainian intelligence, explained my situation, to which they offered this option: 'Come on, we guarantee your safety, guarantee new documents, guarantee monetary compensation, a reward.'" 8 The garage where Kuzminov was found dead Credit: Darren Fletcher 8 Cops at the scene where the pilot was found dead Credit: Reuters 8 Kuzminov fled Russia in a £15million helicopter after killing his two co-pilots, according to Russian media Credit: East2West The defector is believed to have moved to a flat which he was renovating and hoped to start a new life in the Benidorm suburb of Villajoyosa. Despite the continuing carnage between their nations in Eastern Europe , Russians and Ukrainians live side-by-side in Spain alongside British ex-pats and trippers. But Spanish police believed a Kremlin death squad had infiltrated the community and is standing by to liquidate more Putin enemies. Russian state media sensationally claimed Kuzminov shot and killed two of his crewmates who did not support him before he touched down in Ukraine. Their names were Nikita Kiryanov, 28, and Khushbat Tursunov, 35. Reports also alleged Putin's GRU military intelligence agents had orders to 'eliminate' him, no matter how long it took. The same GRU unit was allegedly behind the botched nerve agent attacks on 8 Russia's threats to Kuzminov's life were aired on Russian TV Credit: East2West
Scottish Sun
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Top Ukrainian ex-official found DEAD in pool at same Spain complex as assassinated Putin defector pilot who fled Russia
The Kremlin was accused of carrying out the defector pilot's assassination back in 2024 HITMAN FEARS Top Ukrainian ex-official found DEAD in pool at same Spain complex as assassinated Putin defector pilot who fled Russia Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER Ukrainian official has been found dead at the same spot where a defected Russian chopper pilot was assassinated. Igor Hrushevsky, an ex-employee of Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, was mysteriously found dead at a residential complex in Spain. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Maxim Kuzminov was a Russian who defected to Ukraine Credit: Wikipedia 8 A swimming pool in the residential area of La Cala de Villajoyosa, where both Hrushevsky and Kuzminov were found dead Credit: Darren Fletcher 8 The chopper pilot is said to have been assassinated by thr Russians 8 Kuzminov was on Putin's most-wanted list after being paid a reported £400,000 to steal his Russian military chopper and defect to Ukraine Credit: Wikipedia Ihor was swimming in the pool of a residential complex called Cala Alta in Villajoyosa, south of Valencia. It is the same building where Maksim Kuzminov was apparently shot dead after he defected to Ukraine in an Mi-8 helicopter. The Kremlin was accused of carrying out Kuzminov's assassination back in 2024. Hrushevsky was found face down in the water, with no signs of life. Though he was bleeding from one ear. Locals rushed to pull him out of the water and performed CPR, but failed to save his life, according to local media outlet El Español. The cause of death has not been revealed yet. Hrushevsky's death comes just 18 months after Russian defector Kuzminov was killed inside a garage allegedly by Putin's hitmen. Ruben, a local worker, told The Sun he discovered the army captain, 28, in a pool of blood soon after what is believed to have been a brazen Kremlin-ordered hit job. The ruthless despot's hitmen are said to have tracked down and executed the Russian helicopter pilot who fled to the Costa resort after defecting to Ukraine in August 2023. From 'moving' corpse & corruption scandal to quick 'suicide' story: 5 glaring questions in gun death of Putin minister The Sun was given access to the eerie murder scene yesterday, where Kuzminov was found gunned down. He was dispatched in cold blood by six shots from a pistol believed to have been fitted with a silencer just a 10 minute drive from Benidorm's party strip. We walked his final steps around 50 metres to the spot where his body was found just short of the parking garage's electrically-operated metal doors. Kuzminov was on Putin's most-wanted list after being paid a reported £400,000 to steal his Russian military chopper in a major propaganda coup for Ukraine. He had been given a new identity and joined a large community of Russian speakers living in and around Benidorm using a Ukrainian passport with the name Igor Shevchenko. Ukraine's military intelligence later confirmed it had courted him to defect, as Kuzimov appealed to other pilots to follow his lead. In an interview broadcast by Ukraine's authorities, Kuzimov said: "I contacted representatives of Ukrainian intelligence, explained my situation, to which they offered this option: 'Come on, we guarantee your safety, guarantee new documents, guarantee monetary compensation, a reward.'" 8 The garage where Kuzminov was found dead Credit: Darren Fletcher 8 Cops at the scene where the pilot was found dead Credit: Reuters 8 Kuzminov fled Russia in a £15million helicopter after killing his two co-pilots, according to Russian media Credit: East2West The defector is believed to have moved to a flat which he was renovating and hoped to start a new life in the Benidorm suburb of Villajoyosa. Despite the continuing carnage between their nations in Eastern Europe, Russians and Ukrainians live side-by-side in Spain alongside British ex-pats and trippers. But Spanish police believed a Kremlin death squad had infiltrated the community and is standing by to liquidate more Putin enemies. Russian state media sensationally claimed Kuzminov shot and killed two of his crewmates who did not support him before he touched down in Ukraine. Their names were Nikita Kiryanov, 28, and Khushbat Tursunov, 35. Reports also alleged Putin's GRU military intelligence agents had orders to 'eliminate' him, no matter how long it took. The same GRU unit was allegedly behind the botched nerve agent attacks on Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury.
