"Spain Killing Links to Putin's Unchecked Power"

The killing of Russian pilot Maksim Kuzminov in Spain serves as a menacing signal from Moscow that those who oppose the Kremlin, even in exile, are not safe. The attack, resembling a mob hit, suggests that Russia may be using criminal networks to carry out assassinations in Europe. Kuzminov, who defected to Ukraine, fell into a category of traitors that Putin particularly disdains. The incident raises questions about the security of defectors and the Western response to Russian aggression.