“The death of Yuri Ivanovich is a great, irreplaceable loss for his relatives, colleagues, friends, for all who knew and appreciated this remarkable man and a true patriot.” President Vladimir Putin

Legendary KGB General Yuri Ivanovich Drozdov has died at the age of 91. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

General Drozdov held senior positions in the Soviet KGB for 35 years, and handled a global network of Soviet undercover officers from 1979 until 1991.

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) — a successor agency of the KGB — issued a brief statement commemorating Drozdov’s service.

The office of the Russian President Vladimir Putin also issued a statement which praised Drozdov as a “legendary spy”.

Official Statement

Dear Lyudmila Alexandrovna, Yuri Yurievich and Alexander Yurievich, Sincerely I share the great grief that befell your family. Yuri Ivanovich Drozdov, a legendary spy and a great professional, a strong, unordinary personality, passed away. General Drozdov devoted himself to serving the Motherland, strengthening the national security of the country. He belonged to the heroic generation of soldiers, was a member of brilliant operations, which are rightly considered the pride of domestic foreign intelligence. Among his unquestionable merits and contribution to the creation of the famous special purpose unit “Vympel”. The death of Yuri Ivanovich is a great, irreplaceable loss for his relatives, colleagues, friends, for all who knew and appreciated this remarkable man and a true patriot. Vladimir Putin

Rudolph Abel’s liberation. Interview with KGB Gen. Yuri Drozdov

Soviet sleeper agent Rudolph Abel, sentenced by a U.S. court to 30 years in prison, was exchanged for American spy plane pilot Francis Gary Powers on February 10, 1962.

REFERENCES

Л.А.Дроздовой, Ю.Ю.Дроздову, А.Ю.Дроздову— Official website

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Vladimir Putin on General Drozdov