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Former KGB double agent Oleg Gordievsky dies at Surrey home Former KGB double agent Oleg Gordievsky dies at Surrey home
(30 minutes later)
Oleg Gordievsky has died at his home in Surrey aged 86, the BBC understandsOleg Gordievsky has died at his home in Surrey aged 86, the BBC understands
Oleg Gordievsky, the long-standing KGB double agent who defected to Britain, has died aged 86.Oleg Gordievsky, the long-standing KGB double agent who defected to Britain, has died aged 86.
Gordievsky was said to be Britain's most valuable spy in living memory inside Russia's intelligence agencies.Gordievsky was said to be Britain's most valuable spy in living memory inside Russia's intelligence agencies.
Counter-terrorism police are assisting the coroner, but his death is not being treated as suspicious.Counter-terrorism police are assisting the coroner, but his death is not being treated as suspicious.
He died peacefully at his home in Surrey, the BBC understands.He died peacefully at his home in Surrey, the BBC understands.
Gordievsky, a colonel in Russia's KGB, spent many years as a double agent, passing vital intelligence to both Britain's MI6 and MI5.Gordievsky, a colonel in Russia's KGB, spent many years as a double agent, passing vital intelligence to both Britain's MI6 and MI5.
He has lived in Surrey under police protection since Moscow became suspicious of him in 1985 and he narrowly escaped arrest, trial and a firing squad by getting smuggled across the border into Finland in the boot of a car. He has lived in Godalming under police protection since Moscow became suspicious of him in 1985 and he narrowly escaped arrest, trial and a firing squad by getting smuggled across the border into Finland in the boot of a car.
Two years earlier, as the KGB resident in London at the height of the Cold War, he warned his British handlers that Moscow had become so paranoid about an imaginary surprise attack by the West that the Soviet Union began making preparations to strike first.Two years earlier, as the KGB resident in London at the height of the Cold War, he warned his British handlers that Moscow had become so paranoid about an imaginary surprise attack by the West that the Soviet Union began making preparations to strike first.
As a result of his tip-off, NATO curtailed its military exercise codenamed Able Archer, and the crisis was averted.As a result of his tip-off, NATO curtailed its military exercise codenamed Able Archer, and the crisis was averted.
'A very substantial coup'
In 2007, Gordievsky was honoured by the Queen with the Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George.
The honour is the same title bestowed on fictional British Secret Service agent James Bond.
Information passed on by Gordievsky led to the expulsion of 25 Soviet agents working undercover in the UK.
At the time of his work as a double agent, his defection was hailed by then Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe as "a very substantial coup for our security forces".
Gordievsky has since written a number of books about the operations of the KGB.
Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.