logo
Oleg Gordievsky, a KGB spy who defected to the UK in the Cold War, dies at 86

Oleg Gordievsky, a KGB spy who defected to the UK in the Cold War, dies at 86

Euronews22-03-2025

ADVERTISEMENT
Gordievsky died on March 4 in England, where he had lived since defecting in 1985. Police said on Saturday that they are not treating his death as suspicious.
Historians consider Gordievsky one of the era's most important spies. In the 1980s, his intelligence helped avoid a dangerous escalation of nuclear tensions between the USSR and the West.
Born in Moscow in 1938, Gordievsky joined the KGB in the early 1960s, serving in Moscow, Copenhagen and London, where he became KGB station chief.
He was one of several Soviet agents who grew disillusioned with the USSR after Moscow's tanks crushed the Prague Spring freedom movement in 1968, and was recruited by Britain's MI6 in the early 1970s.
The 1990 book 'KGB: The Inside Story,' co-authored by Gordievsky and British intelligence historian Christopher Andrew, says Gordievsky came to believe that 'the Communist one-party state leads inexorably to intolerance, inhumanity and the destruction of liberties.' He decided that the best way to fight for democracy 'was to work for the West.'
He worked for British intelligence for more than a decade during the chilliest years of the Cold War.
In 1983, Gordievsky warned the U.K. and U.S. that the Soviet leadership was so worried about a nuclear attack by the West that it was considering a first strike. As tensions spiked during a NATO military exercise in Germany, Gordievsky helped reassure Moscow that it was not a precursor to a nuclear attack.
Soon after, U.S. President Ronal Reagan began moves to ease nuclear tensions with the Soviet Union.
In 1984, Gordievsky briefed soon-to-be Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev ahead of his first visit to the U.K. — and also briefed the British on how to approach the reformist Gorbachev. Gorbachev's meeting with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was a huge success.
Most senior Soviet spy to defect
Ben Macintyre, author of a book about the double agent, 'The Spy and the Traitor,' told the BBC that Gordievsky managed 'in a secret way to launch the beginning of the end of the Cold War.'
Gordievsky was called back to Moscow for consultations in 1985, and decided to go despite fearing — correctly — that his role as a double agent had been exposed. He was drugged and interrogated but not charged, and Britain arranged an undercover operation to spirit him out of the Soviet Union — smuggled across the border to Finland in the trunk of a car.
He was the most senior Soviet spy to defect during the Cold War. Documents declassified in 2014 showed that Britain considered Gordievsky so valuable that Thatcher sought to cut a deal with Moscow: If Gordievsky's wife and daughters were allowed to join him in London, Britain would not expel all the KGB agents he had exposed.
Moscow rejected the offer, and Thatcher ordered the expulsion of 25 Russians, despite objections from Foreign Secretary Geoffrey Howe, who fared it could scuttle relations just as Gorbachev was easing the stalemate between Russia and the West.
Moscow responded by expelling 25 Britons, sparking a second round in which each side kicked out six more officials. But, despite Howe's fears, diplomatic relations were never severed.
Gordievsky's family was kept under 24-hour KGB surveillance for six years before being allowed to join him in England in 1991. He lived the rest of his life under U.K. protection in the quiet town of Godalming, 64 kilometres from London.
ADVERTISEMENT
Death not being treated as suspicious
In Russia, Gordievsky was sentenced to death for treason. In Britain, Queen Elizabeth II appointed him a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 2007 for 'services to the security of the United Kingdom.' It is the same accolade held by the fictional British spy James Bond.
In 2008, Gordievsky claimed he had been poisoned and spent 34 hours in a coma after taking tainted sleeping pills given to him by a Russian business associate.
The risks he faced were underscored in 2018 when former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned and seriously sickened with a Soviet-made nerve agent in the English city of Salisbury, where he had been living quietly for years.
The Surrey Police force said officers were called to an address in Godalming on March 4, where 'an 86-year-old man was found dead at the property.'
ADVERTISEMENT
It said counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation, but 'the death is not currently being treated as suspicious' and 'there is nothing to suggest any increased risk to members of the public.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

New Russian bomber spotted in Mali as Wagner Group leaves the country
New Russian bomber spotted in Mali as Wagner Group leaves the country

France 24

time2 hours ago

  • France 24

New Russian bomber spotted in Mali as Wagner Group leaves the country

The Wagner Group, a paramilitary organisation founded in 2014 by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the time, has been supporting the Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) in their fight against jihadists in the Sahel region since 2022. However, a short-lived rebellion by the group against the Russian government in June 2023, followed by Prigozhin's death in a plane crash two months later, sealed the mercenaries' estrangement from the Putin administration. The same year, the Russian Ministry of Defence established another paramilitary group, known as the Africa Corps (or Russian Expeditionary Corps). The group is recruiting for missions abroad and is expected to take over from Wagner Group in Mali. On June 6, the Wagner Group announced on its Telegram account channel the completion of its "main mission" in Mali. The group boasted of having "eliminated thousands of militants and their commanders who had terrorised the civilian population for years", and claimed to have "helped local patriots build a strong and disciplined army". Rumours have been circulating on pro-government accounts in Mali for several months suggesting that Su-24M jets have been delivered to the Malian army. The Su-24M is a two-seat, variable-sweep wing tactical bomber. It entered service in 1983, but has never been deployed in Mali. A Su-24M spotted in a satellite image at Bamako airport It turns out the aircraft has been in Mali since at least April 14, 2025. A satellite image taken on that day by Maxar, and provided to FRANCE 24, shows a Su-24M bomber parked on the tarmac in the military section of the Bamako airport. Its folded wings and fuselage shape make the aircraft easily recognisable. Speculation about its deployment had been rife for months, fuelled by numerous rumours (more on that below). But why is there so much interest and misinformation surrounding an old Soviet-made aircraft? This question is especially pertinent given that the Malian army already operates another Soviet-era ground-attack aircraft, the Su-25. What makes the Su-24M's arrival particularly significant, however, is that it arrives alongside a new unit of Russian paramilitary forces, the Africa Corps. The group is set to replace the Wagner Group which announced its departure on Friday, June 6. Africa Corps: Russian pilots behind the Su-24M In a May 20 social media post, the Africa Corps, a group with close ties to the Russian Ministry of Defence, published photos clearly showing the cockpit of a Su-24M. Yet, the Africa Corps does not mention Mali in its statement. The group merely states that the Su-24M jets are 'carrying out bombing strikes against camps of militants of terrorist organisations in an African country'. Africa Corps is also known to be deployed in Mali's neighbouring countries, Burkina Faso and Niger. The arrival of the aircraft coincides with an ongoing change in Russian command in Mali. Mercenaries from the Wagner Group had previously overseen operations in the northern part of the country, but the arrival of new convoys of military equipment has been documented in recent months. These convoys may also be linked to the deployment of the Africa Corps group. 'Russia wants to strike harder' Russia's deployment of Su-24M aircraft signals an intent to increase its aerial bombardment firepower and intensity, according to Red Samovar, an analyst specialising in Russian aviation: Clearly, this deployment indicates Russia wants to strike harder by deploying the Su-24M, which has a higher ammunition capacity than the Su-25 [Editor's note: which the FAMA are currently using]. Given the situation in Mali, it's highly probable Russia has deployed the Su-24M to enable more massive strikes using both unguided and guided bombs, compared to the Su-25. The Su-24M can carry up to seven tons of weaponry [unlike the Su-25, which has a four-ton capacity]. This enables a broader range of mission capabilities. The Su-24M is a tactical bomber designed in the 1970s for very low-altitude flights to penetrate enemy air defences. This deployment suggests a recycling of Russian aircraft no longer needed in Ukraine, where they've been replaced by the Su-34. These older aircraft can still be useful for several more years in less 'demanding' environments. False rumours anticipating a very real deployment For several months, images allegedly showing the Su-24 bomber in Mali have been circulating on social media. For instance, this video shared on X on April 28 by an account favourable to the Malian government, purportedly shows a Su-24 aircraft flying over Bamako. Although this video features a Su-24M aircraft, it was not filmed in Mali, but rather in Russia. The footage was published on YouTube in October 2020 on the RUplanes channel, which is dedicated to Russian military aviation. The video circulating on Malian accounts simply adds a zoom effect but uses the exact same content as the Russian source. Another video, shared on X by another account supportive of Mali's transitional authorities on May 22, also claimed to show a Su-24M aircraft in service with the Malian army. However, the video does not show a Su-24M, but rather an L-39 Albatros, an aircraft in service with the Malian air force. We cannot rule out that the images were taken in Malian airspace, but it is impossible to geolocate the video. Further images of the Sukhoi Su-24 have reportedly been captured from the vicinity of Bamako airport. Among these, a photo dated March 26 appears more credible than previous videos. According to analysts specialising in Sahelian armies, this photo is believed to be a screenshot from a TikTok video taken on the outskirts of Bamako airport. However, the low quality of the image makes it impossible to find the original video and confirm whether the Su-24M was already deployed as early as March 2025.

EU, Britain strike deal on Gibraltar's post-Brexit status
EU, Britain strike deal on Gibraltar's post-Brexit status

LeMonde

time6 hours ago

  • LeMonde

EU, Britain strike deal on Gibraltar's post-Brexit status

The European Union and Britain on Wednesday, June 11, sealed a "historic" deal on the status of the territory of Gibraltar, five years after Brexit. The deal will ease the flow of people and goods over the Gibraltar-Spain border, forming part of London's much-vaunted "reset" in ties with Brussels. When Britain left the EU in 2020, the relationship between Gibraltar – historically an important military base for Britain due to its position at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea – and the bloc remained unresolved. Talks between London, Madrid, Brussels and Gibraltar on a deal had made halting progress during several rounds of negotiations under Britain's previous Conservative government, but the arrival of Labour last summer gave new impetus. EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said it was "a truly historic milestone for the European Union, including Spain, as well as for the United Kingdom and Gibraltar." "This agreement benefits everyone and will bring legal certainty and confidence to the people and businesses across the region," he said during a news conference in Brussels. He added that he was "absolutely convinced" it would be ratified by the parties because "it's a good agreement." In a statement, the four parties said the agreement would create a fluid border between Gibraltar and Spain, with no physical barriers or checks between the territory and the border town of La Linea. People arriving in the territory by air or sea would undergo dual border checks at Gibraltar port and airport, to be carried out by Gibraltar and Spanish officials. "Spanish officials will be responsible for ensuring the integrity of the Schengen Area," said a UK statement, which likened the arrangement to the system at London's St Pancras station, where French police carry out border checks for passengers bound for the EU. "Immigration and law and order in Gibraltar will remain the exclusive responsibility of Gibraltar's authorities," said the statement from Britain's Foreign Office. 'Delighted' Gibraltar "Today's breakthrough delivers a practical solution after years of uncertainty," British Foreign Minister David Lammy said in a statement. The agreement "protects British sovereignty, supports Gibraltar's economy and allows businesses to plan for the long-term once again," he added. Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo said he was "delighted" about the agreement that will bring "legal certainty to the people of Gibraltar, its businesses and to those across the region who rely on stability at the frontier." The deal, he said, "will protect future generations of British Gibraltarians and does not in any way affect our British sovereignty." Around 15,000 people – over half of Gibraltar's workforce, according to London – cross the land border between Spain and Gibraltar every day. Britain and Spain have disputed control of the tiny territory since it was ceded to Britain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.

'Historic milestone': EU and UK strike political deal on Gibraltal
'Historic milestone': EU and UK strike political deal on Gibraltal

Euronews

time7 hours ago

  • Euronews

'Historic milestone': EU and UK strike political deal on Gibraltal

The EU and the UK on Wednesday struck a political agreement to ensure the continued circulation of people and goods between Spain and Gibraltar without any physical barriers. European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič called it a "truly historic milestone for the EU, including Spain, as well as for the UK and Gibraltar". He said it came after a "successful meeting" with Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo. The UK and Spain have been trying to reach a deal for years to ensure that people and goods could cross freely over the British overseas territory's land border with Spain. But one of the remaining sticking points was how the territory's border would be controlled. All sides were eager to find a deal before the EU's new entry/exit system comes into force, which is now slated for October this year. Gibraltar, which is a British Overseas Territory, was ceded to the UK in 1713, but Spain has claimed the territory as its own. This is a developing story.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store