Putin's KGB wages 'spy war' against UK By Neil Mackay HUNDREDS OF Russian spies are now operating in the UK - many times more than at the height of the cold war, according to a former KGB lieutenant colonel writing today in the Sunday Herald.
Konstantin Preobrazhensky claims Russia is now in the midst of an unprecedented espionage war against British interests at home and abroad, and says it is a spying war for which Britain is wholly unprepared.
Preobrazhensky's comments follow claims earlier this week by Whitehall that the murder of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko was carried out with the backing of the Russian state.
Litvinenko was a fierce critic of former Russian president Vladimir Putin and died after being poisioned with radioactive polonium-201 in London in 2006.
Preobrazhensky, who was a close friend of Litvinenko, was granted political asylum by the US in 2006 after fleeing Russia following outspoken criticism of Putin and Russian intelligence operations.
He says: "Russian agents have a strangle-hold on the UK because Putin modernised the Russian concept of intelligence"
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Posted by: Oleg Penkovsky, in the neo-cons pocket on 12:19am Sun 13 Jul 08
Sloppy reporting - its not the KGB, its the FSB and has been for years.
Anyway, do you not think that there are British agents working to undermine the Russian state, just as they always have done? And do you not think that the Russians have the right to do likewise?
Sounds like the squawkings of a failed operative who would now like a cushy rest home in the West.
Send the traitor back, he deserves nothing but liquidation.
"Its a rouble to join, but two roubles to leave"
Sloppy reporting - its not the KGB, its the FSB and has been for years.
Anyway, do you not think that there are British agents working to undermine the Russian state, just as they always have done? And do you not think that the Russians have the right to do likewise?
Sounds like the squawkings of a failed operative who would now like a cushy rest home in the West.
Send the traitor back, he deserves nothing but liquidation.
"Its a rouble to join, but two roubles to leave"
Posted by: Steve on 3:06am Sun 13 Jul 08
Unusually poor from Mackay. It should be noted that many "ex-KGB" figures are desperately earning a dishonest crust telling anyone anything they want to hear.
Unusually poor from Mackay. It should be noted that many "ex-KGB" figures are desperately earning a dishonest crust telling anyone anything they want to hear.
Posted by: Rakesh Krishnan, Auckland, New Zealand on 4:53am Sun 13 Jul 08
I agree with Oleg. An industry that was thriving during the Cold War but lost steam soon after is back in action. Retired Russian spies can now 'defect' to the West and be treated like heroes. They can again indulge in verbal diarrhea, as CIA and British agents listen with jaw dropping admiration.
This reminds me of Belenko's defection from Vladivostock air base with a MiG-25, which BTW was the biggest scare word during the Cold War.
The chasing Russian MiG-25s could have easily shot down his plane but they let him escape to Japan. Do you think the Russians would have let their prize weapon fall into their enemy hands so easily?
Makes you wonder doesn't it?
During the Cold War, the Americans spy agencies threatened to cut off their close relationship with British agencies because the KGG had thoroughly penetrated them. The Brits were, to use a cliche, leaking like a sieve.
Why doesn't the West trust its $100 million dollar satellite in space over its $10 snitch on the ground?
I agree with Oleg. An industry that was thriving during the Cold War but lost steam soon after is back in action. Retired Russian spies can now 'defect' to the West and be treated like heroes. They can again indulge in verbal diarrhea, as CIA and British agents listen with jaw dropping admiration.
This reminds me of Belenko's defection from Vladivostock air base with a MiG-25, which BTW was the biggest scare word during the Cold War.
The chasing Russian MiG-25s could have easily shot down his plane but they let him escape to Japan. Do you think the Russians would have let their prize weapon fall into their enemy hands so easily?
Makes you wonder doesn't it?
During the Cold War, the Americans spy agencies threatened to cut off their close relationship with British agencies because the KGG had thoroughly penetrated them. The Brits were, to use a cliche, leaking like a sieve.
Why doesn't the West trust its $100 million dollar satellite in space over its $10 snitch on the ground?
Posted by: donald, glasgow on 6:22am Sun 13 Jul 08
And British spies operating in Scotland: especially the media?
And British spies operating in Scotland: especially the media?
Posted by: bobwmac, New Mexico/Stirlingshire on 10:04am Sun 13 Jul 08
Oh no, they may have discovered our invasion plans.
When the Herald stopped employing sub-editors, one would have supposed that at least they would have turned on the spell-checker.
Oh no, they may have discovered our invasion plans.
When the Herald stopped employing sub-editors, one would have supposed that at least they would have turned on the spell-checker.
Posted by: Charles McGrory, Glasgow on 10:35am Sun 13 Jul 08
Shock - Horror! Russian spies are hiding in among the 200,000 Russian reported to be living in London. How did they get all those visas? Must be the looted billions of money they have brought to London along with their tax-free Non-Dom Status.
Get a life! If you want rid of them then send them all home with their billions. Oops not yet!
Shock - Horror! Russian spies are hiding in among the 200,000 Russian reported to be living in London. How did they get all those visas? Must be the looted billions of money they have brought to London along with their tax-free Non-Dom Status.
Get a life! If you want rid of them then send them all home with their billions. Oops not yet!
Posted by: Jim, Irvine on 11:34am Sun 13 Jul 08
Jack Straw said that if Boris Berezovsky stuck his head above the parapet once more he would
send him back to russia. Aint happened yet.
Jack Straw said that if Boris Berezovsky stuck his head above the parapet once more he would
send him back to russia. Aint happened yet.
Posted by: Poppy, Edinburgh on 12:20pm Sun 13 Jul 08
Editor please note - this 'news' is not new! Why is it down as a top story? I heard this same tale several days ago on the BBC!
Editor please note - this 'news' is not new! Why is it down as a top story? I heard this same tale several days ago on the BBC!
Posted by: Judy, NZ on 2:33am Mon 14 Jul 08
Oh Boy no wonder the world is in such mess. The tone of these sarcastic REPLIES are a complete wates of space. Grow up boys.
Oh Boy no wonder the world is in such mess. The tone of these sarcastic REPLIES are a complete wates of space. Grow up boys.
Posted by: Sayonara on 11:29am Mon 14 Jul 08
Preobrazhensky:
A famous intelligence expert and specialist on Japan, author of books about Japan and KGB.
Born in Moscow in 1953, graduated from the Institute of Asia and Africa of the Moscow Uni with an MA. In 1975-76 was an intern at Tokei Uni, Tokyo, Japan. From 1976-1991 he served as an officer in KGB Intelligence with his last position as personal advisor on China, Japan and Korea to Major General Leonid Zaitsev, Head of Scientific and Technical Intelligence (Directorate "T"), Deputy Head of KGB Intelligence (The First Chief Directorate).
The Interview by washprofile.org/en /node /4518
Feb 17, 2006
Question #1: Why did you join the KGB?
Answer: I joined because my specialty as a Japanologist required it of me. If you are a specialist in Japan studies, you have to travel to the country that you study. And that wasn't possible without working in the KGB. There are only two ways of visiting a country you studied, either by becoming an outside agent, that is, a stool pidgeon telling on others, or by becoming a career employee with the KGB... People don't recruit you, rather you recruit others, you control your own destiny. But it's a sad situation for any Japanologist in a totalitarian state. You can't work without the KGB.
From Russia with love....
Preobrazhensky:
A famous intelligence expert and specialist on Japan, author of books about Japan and KGB.
Born in Moscow in 1953, graduated from the Institute of Asia and Africa of the Moscow Uni with an MA. In 1975-76 was an intern at Tokei Uni, Tokyo, Japan. From 1976-1991 he served as an officer in KGB Intelligence with his last position as personal advisor on China, Japan and Korea to Major General Leonid Zaitsev, Head of Scientific and Technical Intelligence (Directorate "T"), Deputy Head of KGB Intelligence (The First Chief Directorate).
The Interview by washprofile.org/en /node /4518
Feb 17, 2006
Question #1: Why did you join the KGB?
Answer: I joined because my specialty as a Japanologist required it of me. If you are a specialist in Japan studies, you have to travel to the country that you study. And that wasn't possible without working in the KGB. There are only two ways of visiting a country you studied, either by becoming an outside agent, that is, a stool pidgeon telling on others, or by becoming a career employee with the KGB... People don't recruit you, rather you recruit others, you control your own destiny. But it's a sad situation for any Japanologist in a totalitarian state. You can't work without the KGB.
From Russia with love....
Posted by: AClove, US on 3:22am Tue 15 Jul 08
I'm here to tell you about my dating life. Yes, there is a catch or a twist, I only date interracial. I'm black female and I exclusively date white men.
I'm here to tell you about my dating life. Yes, there is a catch or a twist, I only date interracial. I'm black female and I exclusively date white men.
Posted by: anonymous on 12:09pm Tue 15 Jul 08
Another interesting interview with Konstantin Preobrazhensky by Nathanael Kapner on
sbn-nathanael.livejo
urnal. com
Another interesting interview with Konstantin Preobrazhensky by Nathanael Kapner on
sbn-nathanael.livejo
urnal. com
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