Oleg Penkovsky: Difference between revisions
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'''Oleg Penkovsky''' (1919-1963) was a colonel in Soviet military intelligence, the [[GRU]]. He became an ideological opponent of the regime, and volunteered his services to the U.S. [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and British [[Secret Intelligence Service]]. He remained in place, providing secret information, until he was discovered and shot. | '''Oleg Penkovsky''' (1919-1963) was a colonel in Soviet military intelligence, the [[GRU]]. He became an ideological opponent of the regime, and volunteered his services to the U.S. [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and British [[Secret Intelligence Service]]. He remained in place, providing secret information, until he was discovered and shot. | ||
Penkovsky is often considered the most important Western [[human source intelligence|spy]] of the [[Cold War]]. He had extensive access both to information on Soviet military technology and strategic thinking. In particular, he provided substantial information on the Soviet [[ballistic missile]] programs, such that the Soviets triggered the [[Cuban missile crisis]] as a result of the imbalance between U.S. programs and what the U.S. now knew of the Soviet deficiencies. | Penkovsky is often considered the most important Western [[human-source intelligence|spy]] of the [[Cold War]]. He had extensive access both to information on Soviet military technology and strategic thinking. In particular, he provided substantial information on the Soviet [[ballistic missile]] programs, such that the Soviets triggered the [[Cuban missile crisis]] as a result of the imbalance between U.S. programs and what the U.S. now knew of the Soviet deficiencies. | ||
The main [[compartmented control system|code word]] for his material was IRONBARK, which can be searched in the online CIA Freedom of Information Act reading room. | The main [[compartmented control system|code word]] for his material was IRONBARK, which can be searched in the online CIA Freedom of Information Act reading room. | ||
[[George Kisevalter]] of the CIA led interrogation and document analysis. [[Grenville Wynne]], a British businessman, was his main courier, although he sent out some material through diplomats. |
Latest revision as of 14:51, 9 February 2011
Oleg Penkovsky (1919-1963) was a colonel in Soviet military intelligence, the GRU. He became an ideological opponent of the regime, and volunteered his services to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and British Secret Intelligence Service. He remained in place, providing secret information, until he was discovered and shot.
Penkovsky is often considered the most important Western spy of the Cold War. He had extensive access both to information on Soviet military technology and strategic thinking. In particular, he provided substantial information on the Soviet ballistic missile programs, such that the Soviets triggered the Cuban missile crisis as a result of the imbalance between U.S. programs and what the U.S. now knew of the Soviet deficiencies.
The main code word for his material was IRONBARK, which can be searched in the online CIA Freedom of Information Act reading room.
George Kisevalter of the CIA led interrogation and document analysis. Grenville Wynne, a British businessman, was his main courier, although he sent out some material through diplomats.