Former Ukrainian Official Found Dead at Spanish Complex Where Russian Defector Was Previously Assassinated

A former Ukrainian government official has been found dead at the same Spanish residential complex where a defected Russian pilot was killed in a suspected Kremlin-ordered hit 18 months ago.

Igor Hrushevsky, previously affiliated with Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, was discovered unresponsive and lying face down in a swimming pool at the Cala Alta complex in Villajoyosa, near Valencia. Reports indicate he was bleeding from one ear. Despite residents attempting CPR, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have yet to confirm the official cause of death.

This is the same location where Maksim Kuzminov, a Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine in 2023, was shot dead in 2024 near a parking garage. Kuzminov’s defection involved flying a Mi-8 helicopter into Ukraine and allegedly killing his two co-pilots. He was later granted a new identity and financial support by Ukraine. His assassination was widely believed to be the work of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, which has been linked to past high-profile attacks, including the 2018 poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal in the UK.

Though Spanish officials have not established any connection between Hrushevsky’s death and Kuzminov’s killing, the similarity in location has fueled speculation. According to El Español, Hrushevsky, 28, had been swimming shortly before he was found.

The Cala Alta complex is home to residents of various nationalities, including Russians, Ukrainians, and Britons, and is considered by some to be a potential hub for espionage activity amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Kuzminov had urged other Russian soldiers to defect, asserting in a Ukrainian government interview that he was promised protection, a new identity, and compensation. His defection was seen as a propaganda boost for Ukraine.

The deaths of both men at the same site have reignited concerns about the safety of defectors and former officials abroad. So far, Spanish authorities have not announced whether foul play is being investigated in Hrushevsky’s case.