A former U.S. Air Force member is now working as a drone operator in Russia, according to officials.... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
The Russian Ministry of Defense posted a video to Telegram on Monday in which a man appearing to be Wilmer Puello-Mota said, “I don’t consider myself a traitor,” and “I love these guys,” when speaking about the Russian soldiers he is serving with.
Puello-Mota, who served for 10 years in the U.S. Air Force, reportedly defected in April. According to the Telegram post, “A former American citizen, now a Russian serviceman with the call sign “Boston”, is serving as a reconnaissance drone operator in a UAV platoon.” The post also refers to him as “Will.”
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Air Force and the Russian Ministry of Defense via email for comment.
The Telegram post details that, “After delving into international politics, he decided to visit Russia and after some time decided to join the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces and sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. Now Will is a reconnaissance drone operator. The team accepted him and entrusts him with the most difficult combat missions.”
Previously charged with possession of child pornography, Puello-Mota fled the U.S. in January 2024 before his court appearance. Russian media claim he signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry and participated in military operations in Ukraine. U.S. authorities at the time were uncertain whether the reports are genuine or an elaborate ruse to evade prosecution. If convicted, Puello-Mota faced a minimum of five years in prison.
Wilmer Puello-Mota
Wilmer Puello-Mota, who served for 10 years in the U.S. Air Force reportedly defected in April. According to the Telegram post he is serving as a reconnaissance drone operator in a UAV platoon.
In the video, the former U.S. serviceman criticizes the U.S government, saying, “The United States have done things that are very provocative”
“It’s been involved in other people’s politics, other nation’s interests. It should not be doing that.” He continued, stating that, “The country is ran by different people than the people that live in the country and feel a different way.”
“Our country is trillions of dollars in debt, our country is collapsing, it’s falling apart.”
“I think that the people who caused this in my country should be held responsible for what they’ve done,” he said.
The video was published as the Kursk incursion continues, and it is now two weeks since Ukraine launched it’s offensive into Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that the “primary task” of Ukraine was to “destroy as much Russian war potential as possible,” and carve out a buffer zone in Kursk.
The former USAF guardsman described the incursion as a “terrorist attack,” and said “This doesn’t represent the true interest of the American people.”
