Vassili Mitrokhine

Vassili Mitrokhine (1922-2004) was a former KGB archivist who defected to the West, bringing with him a vast trove of intelligence documents that detailed Soviet espionage activities from 1917 to 1991. His collaboration with historian Christopher Andrew led to the publication of 'The Mitrokhin Archive,' which unveiled critical insights into the operations of the KGB and its influence on Western nations, making him a pivotal figure in the study of Cold War intelligence.