A Russian air defense officer who shot down a Russian helicopter has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison. He explained that he had mistaken it for an enemy drone.
Air defense officer Igor Pashkov was sentenced to almost three years in prison for shooting down a Russian helicopter after mistaking it for a Ukrainian drone. The incident occurred in Crimea in October 2023. Three Mi-8 crew members were killed.
Penal colony for shooting down a helicopter
The soldier, who was serving as a deputy air defense officer at the time, turned himself in to police and admitted that he “may have made a fatal mistake.” Court documents cited by Kommersant newspaper show that an anonymous combatant commander reported “low-flying, low-speed aerial targets” to Pashkov.
– The crew chief later explained that it was a helicopter flying with its lights on, but Pashkov did not believe reports of further action. We read that an inspection revealed that there were no “friendly aircraft” in the vicinity.
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A few minutes later, a missile fired from the Tor-M2DT anti-aircraft missile system destroyed the target in question. It is unclear whether the police officer fired the missile himself or whether he simply gave the order.
A military court in the Crimean city of Sevastopol found Pashkov guilty of negligence and sentenced him to three years in a penal colony. The Rostov-on-Don Appeals Court later reduced his sentence by two months. The soldier quickly admitted to the charges and claimed it was a mistake.
millions in compensation
The guilty plea is said to have an impact on sentencing, as the officer could face up to seven years in prison. The judge found that remorse, supporting a disabled son, and status as a decorated veteran were mitigating factors.
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Pashkov was also ordered to pay 5 million rubles to the Russian Ministry of Defense for property damage and 1 million rubles each to the widows of the crew members. The ministry initially demanded 204 million rubles for the destroyed helicopter.
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