Radioactive Tea: The Death of Alexander Litvinenko
Arguably the most famous Russian assassination-by-poisoning occurred on November 1st 2006, when Alexander Litvinenko, a former member of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) suddenly fell ill after a meeting in London with some of his old comrades.
Ten Unique Weapons from the World of Spycraft
Some incredibly creative weapons and gadgets have come out of research laboratories and been placed in the hands of spies, saboteurs, and guerillas all over the world. Here is a sampling of ten of the most unique weapons from the world of spycraft.
Poison Perfume: How the GRU Hunted Down a Defector in London
Former GRU Colonel Sergei Skripal was living a quiet life in Salisbury England when some of his old colleagues came calling in March 2018. He had earned the ire of Vladimir Putin years earlier, and Putin was not one to forgive or forget his enemies.
Death by Umbrella: The Murder of Georgi Markov by the Bulgarian Security Service in London, 1978
On September 7th, 1978, Georgi Markov was walking along a crowded sidewalk on the Waterloo Bridge over the River Thames. Suddenly feeling a sharp pain in his right thigh, he turned to see a man picking up an umbrella off the sidewalk. A taxi pulled up beside the stranger, who entered it and immediately departed the area.
Russian Stagecraft: The Ryan Fogle Debacle
In May 2013, the Central Intelligence Agency suffered one of its most embarrassing fiascoes in recent memory. Not embarrassing in the sense that illegal or immoral activities were brought to light before a Congressional committee. Rather, embarrassing in the sense that one of their case officers looked like a complete fool on the international stage.
Eight Unforgettable Books About Spycraft and Espionage
I’ve read dozens of books over the years; visited museums all over the United States, and conversed with many knowledgeable current and former members of the intelligence community.Here I want to provide you with some of my favorite references for diving ever deeper into the world of spycraft.