A Promotion Turns into Danger
On May 17, 1985, Oleg Gordievsky, chief of the KGB station in London, received an urgent order to return to Moscow. Though his promotion had been confirmed just months earlier, he feared it was a trap. Despite his MI6 handlers’ assurance that everything was fine, Gordievsky sensed danger and reluctantly flew back to Moscow.
A Father’s Arrest
Meanwhile, Andrei Poleshchuk returned home in Moscow to find his father, Leonid Poleshchuk, a senior KGB officer, arrested. Unknown to Andrei, Leonid had been working as a CIA mole. His arrest marked the start of a nightmare for Andrei and his family, as the KGB interrogated them relentlessly.
A Ruse in Athens
On May 21, 1985, GRU colonel Sergei Bokhan, based in Athens, received an alarming cable suggesting he return home. He immediately knew the message was a trap—he had been secretly working for the CIA for a decade. Instead of Moscow, he fled, eventually reaching the U.S. with the help of the CIA.
A Mysterious Betrayal
Over a dozen U.S. and British intelligence agents were exposed in 1985. The CIA and FBI soon discovered Aldrich Ames was responsible for many of the betrayals. However, the timing didn’t match up for Gordievsky, Bokhan, and Poleshchuk. The question of a still-unknown mole remains.
The Betrayal of Spies: 1985’s Hidden Mole 🕵️
A Promotion Turns into Danger
On May 17, 1985, Oleg Gordievsky, chief of the KGB station in London, received an urgent order to return to Moscow. Though his promotion had been confirmed just months earlier, he feared it was a trap.… pic.twitter.com/zkri7JRgul— Detective Tiger’s Stories (@TigerDetective) October 2, 2024