The headquarters of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service headquaters in south-west Moscow
Photo: Dmitry Dukhanin
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Russian Intelligence Opens Files about Its Agent in UK
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service has declassified files about a British intelligence agent Viktor Bogomolets who also worked for the Soviet Union, the Interfax news agency reports.
Russian émigré Viktor Bogomolets worked for the British M16 up till the start of WWII. He also cooperated with Polish and Romanian secret intelligence services, the Russian intelligence said in a statement. But in 1945 he “realized that there was no sense in fighting against his motherland” and offered his services to the Soviet intelligence. The man worked under the nickname of “Brit”.
Intelligence from him was used in reports to Soviet leaders Stalin and Molotov. “Brit” helped the Soviet Union to understand objectives of his long-time boss at M16, Colonel Gibson.
The documents that Russia has declassified were used in a book by Intelligence Service Major-General Lev Sotskov which describes an operation which recruited two Russian migrants and intelligence agents, Boris Lago and Viktor Bogomolets. The operation aimed to engage Britain “in broader economic cooperation with the USSR and search for agreements to ensure collective security with other countries”. Thanks to this operation, London allied with Moscow after Germany attacked the Soviet Union.
British intelligence services still keep all information about Viktor Bogomolets classified, considering him one of their best agents, according to experts. However, the news that the Russian was recruited by the Soviet intelligence is likely to keep his British files classified for long time, according to analysts.
www.kommersant.com
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