Viktor Riznichenko, an employee of the State Security Administration, told the Obolonsky district court on January 18 that from the Zaporozhye region on the night of February 23, 2014, former President Viktor Yanukovych was guarded by three Russian Mi-8 helicopters. According to Riznichenko, on February 21, 2014, Yanukovich flew two helicopters from Mezhyhiria to an unknown direction at 22 o'clock, reports Ukrayinska Pravda.. The guard said that together with the advanced group he left for Kharkov, and then he came to the residence where Yanukovich was already. Then the ex-president went to the airport and, accompanied by a group of two helicopters flew to an unknown destination. The dispatcher of UkSATSE handed the crew the demand of Alexander Turchinov to return to the airfield in Kharkov, but the pilots stated that they would not have enough fuel. As a result, the helicopters took place in Donetsk. Riznichenko added that in Donetsk Yanukovych with the guards got into Falcon type aircraft, but did not manage to fly away, as they were prevented by representatives of the state border service. After this, the former president was brought to a mansion in Donetsk, where Yanukovich met with Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov. Then, according to the ex-guard, approximately 22 hours on February 22, Yanukovych left in the direction of the Crimea. Near the city of Berdyansk, Zaporozhye region, the president's motorcade drove up to the agricultural field. "Illuminated the headlights of the car this field and literally immediately on it sat 3 helicopters Mi-8. On the fuselage - depicts a red star, unknown pilots were in special equipment, without chevrons or stripes.

I think they were helicopters of the Russian Federation, "Riznichenko said..

He added that for technical reasons the plane landed in Anapa, where Yanukovich was transferred to Yalta, and then to the Black Sea Fleet base of Russia in Cossack Bay. On the basis of Yanukovich suggested that the guards fly with him, if they want. Agreed to accompany the president more than 10 people, but Riznichenko and several of his colleagues refused and the next day went to Kiev. The last time an ex-guard saw an ex-president on the parade ground near Sevastopol late on 23 February.