Revealing how Soviet KGB agents outwitted French counterintelligence

Before going abroad for work, Soviet intelligence officers (KGB) had to study and practice “tail-cutting” exercises. According to regulations, before dropping or taking “goods” out of a secret mailbox, or before meeting a spy, the spy had to check to see if he was being followed. He had to leave his workplace about 4 hours before the meeting, by private car, go to a subway station to park his car, get off the train and go 2-3 stops, get off the train and go above ground by taxi.

About 2-3 times like that, during that time, he had to carefully observe all the surrounding developments to see if there was anything unusual. When approaching the meeting point, he was supported by his colleagues - who also carried out similar security measures - and promptly detected any suspicious things. If it was safe, the meeting could take place, otherwise it had to be canceled. After returning, a new meeting point was set with a meeting time earlier than the previous time.

To monitor international intelligence, French counterintelligence often applies a measure called “grid technique”. Accordingly, counterintelligence agents communicate with each other via radio telephones, and are arranged at “choke points” of the city such as bridges, major roads, intersections, etc. to be able to monitor the movements of “prey” from a distance.

Special forces of the French Counter-Intelligence Service. Photo: Reuters

If for a long time the “prey” does not appear where he should appear, it means that he has stopped somewhere, it is entirely possible to meet the spy. It is not difficult for counterintelligence to determine the specific area. The next thing is to mobilize the staff there and examine to find the rendezvous point, as well as to identify the local spy.

The “net technique” is quite dangerous, but it is not always successful. Simply put, the counterintelligence agent may arrive at the meeting place too late and not recognize the “prey” among the hundreds of people passing by. The KGB also has its own measures to prevent this surveillance. Each KGB group operating abroad has a department (usually called KR) to ensure the security of the officers on duty.

When someone goes to meet a spy, KR agents will eavesdrop on the local counterintelligence radio frequency. If the number of signals increases abnormally, the officer on duty will be notified or called back. KR can also deploy some officers to “jam” the counterintelligence, such as luring the counterintelligence agent to follow them to a place where there is no meeting.

However, KGB officer Victor Sokolov made a serious mistake. He ignored all security measures and went straight to the meeting place. On that day, the French counterintelligence “net” detected Sokolov’s car leaving the embassy and driving straight down an avenue. He circled around the block at the end of the avenue and then headed straight to where the avenue intersected with a small street.

Sokolov's agent was waiting there. The two men went into a cafe, talked for about 30 minutes, exchanged documents, and parted ways. The agent got into his car and quickly disappeared, but counterintelligence managed to take a photo of him and the license plate. The agent was revealed to be a doctor, often traveling abroad on business. Together with the details gathered earlier, counterintelligence confirmed that the doctor was working for the KGB. However, they did not immediately arrest him.

Patience is one of the qualities of those who work in intelligence and counterintelligence. After a while, the doctor and his wife returned from abroad to Paris for a “vacation”. He stopped at the same hotel where he had stayed before. This time, the counterintelligence booked a room right next to him so they could monitor him. They did not have to wait long. In the afternoon, the doctor told his wife that he had to go see a friend and would be back before dinner.

It was at this point that the KGB officers made their second mistake, and Major Nescherov, who met the spy this time, was more careful. Nescherov went to the meeting place with Captain Sljutrenko as his bodyguard, but the meeting was still held at the same cafe. The two men walked around in circles before deciding to enter the cafe.

The French counterintelligence agents had to wait 20 minutes, when after a while of chatting, the doctor began to hand Nhescherov the envelope he was holding in his hand, then they intervened and proceeded to catch him red-handed. Nhescherov's companion stood about 100 meters away from the meeting place, could only observe everything that was happening.

Nhescherov and Sljuchenko used their diplomatic rights to avoid prosecution by the French, but they were recalled to Moscow. Major Sokolov, who was on leave at the time, was also warned by the French side that Moscow did not want to see him return to France. The French doctor was forced to admit to the crime of "espionage". His testimony caused significant damage to the KGB spy network in France as well as Soviet intelligence activities in general./.