The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has successfully executed a covert mission code-named “Barynya,” resulting in recruiting a regular Russian military serviceman. Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Military Intelligence Directorate, disclosed the operation’s details, as reported by Ukrinform.
“In the wake of the Barynya covert operation, Lieutenant Danilo Vladimirovich Alferov, a Russian regular military serviceman, made the decision to defect to the Ukrainian side. His collaboration with Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces and the Main Intelligence Directorate has been active since June 2023. Alferov successfully convinced and voluntarily transferred 11 Russian servicemen into captivity in multiple groups. When Alferov’s life was endangered, Ukraine conducted a specialized operation to ensure his safe passage to Ukrainian territory,” stated Yusov.
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According to Yusov, Alferov was safely transported to Ukrainian-controlled territory by the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces. The Russian serviceman initiated contact with the Ukrainian military through the “I Want to Live” project.
“I was approached by the Ukrainian side to identify Russian military servicemen interested in surrendering as prisoners under the ‘Wish to Live’ initiative. During our collaboration, I successfully facilitated the surrender of three groups of soldiers. When suspicions began to arise, I informed my handler from ‘I Want to Live’ that I was leaving. Upon arrival in Ukrainian territory and meeting with the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, I underwent the standard procedures prescribed for Russian military personnel who surrender as prisoners,” added Alferov.
On August 23, it was revealed that the Military Intelligence Directorate, in partnership with the Ukrainian National Guard, managed to “relocate” a Russian Mi-8 combat helicopter along with critical cargo and documentation to an airfield in the Kharkiv region. The preparations for this operation spanned six months. Maxim Kuzminov, the pilot who cooperated with the Ukrainian side, is currently residing in Ukraine with his family, while other members of the crew tragically lost their lives.
