Pyotr Semyonovich Popov

Pyotr Semyonovich Popov (died 1960) was a major in the Soviet military intelligence apparatus (GRU). He was the first GRU official successfully recruited by the CIA. Between 1952 and 1958, he provided the United States with large amounts of information concerning military capabilities and espionage operations.

Popov first made contact by slipping a letter into the parked car of an American intelligence officer in Vienna. He seemed to be motivated by a deep anger at what he felt was Soviet exploitation of the peasants of Russia, including his own family.

In Vienna, and later in Berlin, he brazenly contacted American agents, delivering copies of secret documents. Popov described the organization of the Soviet military command, provided the names of Russian intelligence agents in Europe and gave insight into the 'illegals' network run by the Soviets.

Reportedly, an 'illegal' female agent who was trained for work in the USA noticed on arriving in New York, that she was under surveillance. She reported this, and the matter was heavily investigated by Moscow. The investigation pointed to Popov, who had been the woman's control officer in East Berlin. He may also have been exposed by a British double agent who inadvertently learned that the C.I.A. was using a senior Soviet intelligence officer stationed in East Germany as a mole.

Other sources indicate a coded letter to Popov, sent by the CIA and intercepted by the KGB, leading to his arrest. He was executed by Soviet authorities in 1960.

References

Persondata
NAME=Popov, Pyotr Semyonovich
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Soviet spy
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=Russia
DATE OF DEATH=1960
PLACE OF DEATH=Soviet Union