Oleg Gordievsky

Oleg Gordievsky
Gordievsky in 2007
Born
Oleg Antonovich Gordievsky

(1938-10-10)10 October 1938
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Died4 March 2025(2025-03-04) (aged 86)
Godalming, Surrey,
United Kingdom
Nationality
  • British
  • Russian
OccupationSpy
AwardsCMG
Espionage activity
Allegiance
  • Soviet Union
  • United Kingdom
    (secret agent since 1974)
Service branchKGB
SIS/MI6
RankColonel of the KGB
Codename
  • SUNBEAM
  • PIMLICO
  • NOCTON
  • OVATION
  • TICKLE

Oleg Antonovich Gordievsky CMG (Оле́г Анто́нович Гордие́вский; 10 October 1938 – 4 March 2025) was a colonel of the KGB who became KGB resident-designate (rezident) and bureau chief in London.

Gordievsky was a double agent, providing information to the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) from 1974 to 1985. After being recalled to Moscow under suspicion, he was exfiltrated from the Soviet Union in July 1985 under a plan code-named Operation Pimlico. The Soviet Union subsequently sentenced him to death in absentia.