My Life as a KGB Spy in America The Truth Behind Soviet Spies in Washington, DC [1995]

This first-hand story of Soviet spies in Washington DC, includes revelations of previously unknown KGB successes. The author, who resigned from the KGB in 1990, after ten years of service, has written an account that exposes the truth behind Soviet spies in America. In this CSPAN interview he describes the ins and outs of spying and working with the 80s era KGB.

Yuri B. Shvets (born 1952) was a Major in the KGB during the years 1980-1990. From April 1985 to 1987 he worked in the Washington Rezidentura of the KGB.

He graduated in International Law from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia when it was still named the Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University.

Shvets recruited two key sources of political intelligence whom he referred to as Sputnitsa and Socrates. Sputnisa is identified as a journalist working in Washington, and Socrates as a former Carter administration aide with strong ties to Greece. In his 2005 book “Spy Handler: Memoir of a KGB Officer”, Victor Cherkashin alleges that “Socrates” was John Helmer and Sputnitsa the late New Statesman journalist Claudia Wright. However, Cherkashin also claims that contrary to Shvets’ assertions, Helmer was “never an agent or even a target” of the KGB.

After publishing a book describing his exploits and ultimate falling out with the KGB, Shvets was banned from foreign travel. In 1994, he secretly made his way to America where he now resides.