Vasili Mitrokhin

Vasili Mitrokhin, born on March third, nineteen twenty-two, was a notable figure in the world of espionage, serving as a spy, archivist, and writer. His life took a dramatic turn when he decided to defect from Russia, a move that would ultimately lead to the unveiling of significant Soviet intelligence operations.

After his initial attempts to share his findings in Latvia were dismissed as potential fakes, Mitrokhin sought the assistance of the UK's MI6. This collaboration facilitated his defection, allowing him to bring forth a wealth of information that would later be known as the Mitrokhin Archive.

In partnership with historian Christopher Andrew, Mitrokhin co-authored the influential work, The Mitrokhin Archive: The KGB in Europe and the West. This comprehensive account detailed the operations of Soviet intelligence, drawing from the extensive materials he had preserved. Following his passing, the second volume, The Mitrokhin Archive II: The KGB in the World, was published in two thousand five, further cementing his legacy in the field of intelligence studies.