According to Drozdov, who has been working in illegal intelligence for more than 30 for years and has gone from being an operative commissioner to the head of the department, it was the introduction of spies into the power circles that allowed Washington to learn about the results of many secret operations. The general said this in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
"Some people appeared in the highest echelons of power who should not know about all this, about our results," the scout said. He himself says that he was afraid of betrayal, because even undercover materials confirmed the presence of foreign spies in the Soviet regime, RIA "writesNews".
In general, over the years of successful intelligence work, General Drozdov has not lost faith in this method of obtaining information. "Because all history the existence of the world a person has always been engaged in intelligence ... And therefore, without intelligence, if you re-read biblical sources, society cannot live. Intelligence is needed in any state. As for our state, we definitely need it. We want to properly build our relationship with the world, move forward. To do this, they must have a well-equipped, thoroughly prepared illegal intelligence ", - explained the general.
He is optimistic about the future of Russian intelligence, even in the age of computer technology. "Why should we give up what all powerful powers use. We must have a complete picture of the political landscape, work out a future strategy. Is it possible without intelligence?" - said Drozdov. Recall that a major spy scandal erupted in late June. Then a whole group of illegal Russian intelligence agents was sent from the United States. Western media have written about the grand demise of intelligence in Russia since the Soviet Union and the degeneration of the FSB, since over the years of espionage, agents have not been able to obtain worthy information that would not be in the public domain on the Internet.
However, the former director of British counterintelligence, Stephen Lander, who led MI5 for six years, up to 2002, said in August that Russian spies had an early laugh. In a documentary program about the summer scandal, he stated that the mere existence of a network of Russian illegal immigrants - that is, spies working without diplomatic cover - was in no way a matter of ridicule.
In his opinion, the fact that the exposed agents do not look any dangerous and seem like losers is part of an exciting game. “This is why Russians often succeed in espionage: this image is a kind of cover. They are cogs of a machine, very professional and formidable,” Lander said. The only thing that has changed since the days of the Cold War is the goals of spies, experts say. Now they are largely in the economic plane, because modern Russia wants to strengthen its strategic position in the world at the expense of its energy resources.
Yuri Drozdov - veteran scout
Yuri Ivanovich Drozdov was born on September 19 on 1925 in Minsk in the family of a soldier. In 1944, he graduated from the 1 Leningrad Artillery School, evacuated to the city of Engels. Member of the Great Patriotic War. War ended in Berlin. In 1956, he graduated from the Military Institute of Foreign Languages and was transferred to the State Security Committee.
In August, 1957 was sent to Berlin to the Office of the KGB Commissioner as an operational officer. In connection with the arrest in the USA of the later legendary Soviet intelligence officer Rudolf Abel, he took part in intelligence operations on his exchange for the American pilot Harry Powers.
In the year 1963, after completing a business trip to Germany, it is directed to refresher courses for operational personnel. In August, 1964 was sent on a long-term business trip to China, where he stayed until 1968, as a resident of foreign intelligence agencies of state security. After working at the Center in 1975, he was appointed a resident of foreign intelligence in New York, where he was under 1979 under the protection of the Deputy Permanent Representative of the USSR to the UN.
In November, 1979 was appointed Head of the Illegal Intelligence Directorate of the PGU of the KGB of the USSR, which he headed until 1991. Member of the Afghan events. The initiator of the creation and the head of the reconnaissance and sabotage subdivision Vympel, intended for conducting operations outside the USSR in a "special period".
Since 1991, retired. Major General. Awarded numerous orders, and has government awards of the GDR, Poland, Cuba, Afghanistan.