KYIV, Sept 4 - The Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine with a Mi-8 helicopter and fighter jet parts urged other Russian pilots to do the same, in an interview released by Ukraine's Defense Intelligence.

Maksym Kuzminov, a 28-year-old former captain in Russia's 319th separate helicopter regiment, said other pilots should consider defecting to Ukraine, and not be involved in the genocidal war.

"You'll be provided for, for the rest of your lives. You will be offered a job everywhere, no matter what you do," he said in the interview.