"Ukrainian military intelligence officers attempted to recruit a Russian military pilot in order to divert this aircraft to an area controlled by the Ukrainian armed forces," the FSB security agency said, adding that the targeted chopper was an Mi-8MTPR-1.

It did not say when the incident took place, but said that intelligence obtained during the operation had allowed strikes to be carried out on Ukrainian positions.

The Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, citing the FSB, said that the pilot was contacted by Kyiv security services and asked to poison the rest of the helicopter crew before flying the aircraft across the front line.

In July, the FSB claimed to have foiled a similar attempt, this time targeting a strategic bomber, with the complicity of a "Russian military pilot, in exchange for a financial reward and Italian citizenship".

In the summer of 2023, Ukraine recruited a Russian helicopter pilot, Maxim Kuzminov, opposed to the conflict, who deserted aboard a Mi-8 aircraft and reached territory under Ukrainian control.

He was found dead in Spain in early 2024.