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FSB stops Ukrainian attempt to hijack Russian military helicopter

Ukrainian military intelligence agents attempted to recruit a Russian military pilot to hijack the aircraft to Ukraine, the security service reported

MOSCOW, November 11. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) stopped an attempt by Ukraine’s military intelligence to hijack a Russian electronic warfare helicopter, the FSB said.

"The Federal Security Service uncovered and stopped an operation by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry to hijack a Mi-8MTPR-1 electronic warfare helicopter of the Russian Aerospace Forces," the FSB said.

Ukrainian military intelligence agents attempted to recruit a Russian military pilot to hijack the aircraft to Ukraine, the FSB added. According to it, during the operation, Russian counterintelligence officers uncovered the positions of Ukrainian air defense systems and troops which were later struck.

In a video released by the FSB, the pilot said a Ukrainian intelligence officer, Sergey, had contacted him via Telegram. "On a given day, I was supposed to take the helicopter across the line of engagement," he said. The Ukrainians also plotted for the Russian military pilot to poison his crew mates before hijacking the chopper.

Also, the pilot revealed that his wife and children were to be driven to Ukraine via Chisinau as he shared the details of the plot with his fellow pilots. "After we discussed it with my crew mates, we resolved to act decisively and go to the end," he added.

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