The Russian pilot, who fled to Lithuania because he no longer wanted to participate in the “special military operation” launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin, told the Russian BBC in an interview why the figures for Ukrainian military equipment provided by the Russian army are such exaggerated.

26-year-old Lieutenant Dmytro Misov, a Russian Air Force pilot, illegally crossed the border into Lithuania to avoid military service.

He said that he tried to desert for more than a year.

Before surrendering to Lithuanian authorities, the officer told the BBC, among other things, why the Russian Defense Ministry regularly reports suspiciously high figures for destroyed military equipment.

In fact, over-killing translates directly into money, as soldiers are rewarded for each kill.

“The tank has been destroyed several times”

According to the officer, soldiers can report to the command several times about the destruction of the same tank.

“Suppose there is a damaged tank. And more helicopters fire at it several times, and each time the gunner confirms for a small fee that a new piece of equipment has been destroyed. And in fact, everyone is paid for a single tank,” Mishov said.

The officer said that no Russian military personnel believed the message relayed by General Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry.

At the same time, the Ministry of Defense of Russia probably does not always deliberately overestimate statistics.

“I think it happens with statistics, because equipment is destroyed more often due to payments. And the lower commanders report to the seniors that everything is fine, we have destroyed so much of the fortress, so much equipment, so many parts. And Konashenkov probably collects all these things. This is what I described when a tank is hit several times!” said the lieutenant.

How much do the Russian military get for destroyed equipment

In November 2022, the Ministry of Defense of Russia promised soldiers separate payments for the destroyed military equipment of the Ukrainian troops.

The military receives 300,000 rubles (3,350 euros) for a destroyed plane, 200,000 rubles (2,235 euros) for a helicopter, and 100,000 rubles (1,115 euros) for a tank.

Earlier this week, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported the destruction of more than 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers and the destruction of 28 tanks, including eight Leopard tanks.

As proof, the military department released a video of the destruction of one of the Leopard tanks, only it was a tractor.

Even the founder of the “Wagner” group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, does not believe in the pathetic figures officially released and ridiculed by the spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

“I think Baron Munchausen is resting. And judging by what is written here, soon we will reach aliens. In general, it is necessary to add up all the numbers that Konashenkov gives. I think that we have already destroyed the entire planet Earth five times,” Prigozhin said.

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