Stanislav Kurilov was one of the few brave souls who dared to oppose unjust authority. His incredible leap into the ocean from a Soviet liner and two-day swim towards the unknown Philippines was a feat that only a Russian intellectual, athlete, and yogi could accomplish. Vasily Aksyonov described him as an eternal rebel, reminding that the Russian intelligentsia should not forget its heroes, of whom there are not many.

Unable to leave the USSR legally, Kurilov long nurtured a plan for escape, which was realized spontaneously when he learned about a cruise on the liner 'Soviet Union' in December 1974. Since the ship did not dock at foreign ports, no exit visa was required for the trip.

On December 13, 1974, carefully calculating his route, Stanislav jumped from a height of over 12 meters from the stern of the ship. Successfully avoiding the propellers, he donned fins, a mask, and a snorkel and set off swimming towards the shore. He swam for almost three days without sleep, food, or water until he reached Siargao Island in the Philippines. Due to difficult swimming conditions and currents, the planned 18 kilometers turned into almost 100. Kurilov attributed his endurance to years of practicing yoga.

After an investigation by the Philippine authorities and a brief detention, he was deported to Canada, where he obtained citizenship. The radio station 'Voice of America' reported on his escape, and in the USSR, he was sentenced in absentia to 10 years of imprisonment for treason.

Stanislav Kurilov died on January 29, 1998, during diving work on the Sea of Galilee, getting tangled in nets and exhausting all his air. He is buried in Jerusalem at the cemetery of the German Templer community.