Arturo Castro

So the sedatives were Oleg's first move. He pounded them and fortunately they also gave him an empty jug for piss. Now, over the next half hour from the darkness of the trunk, Oleg felt them stop at four different Soviet checkpoints on the way to the border.

So the sedatives were Oleg's first move. He pounded them and fortunately they also gave him an empty jug for piss. Now, over the next half hour from the darkness of the trunk, Oleg felt them stop at four different Soviet checkpoints on the way to the border.

They all seemed to be quick conversations while the drivers and the passengers showed papers, but they kept music playing in the car radios and it seemed like they were doing just fine. Now, the fifth stop is when it gets tricky. Oh boy. The engine switched off and Oleg could hear voices. They had reached customs. Oleg heard the officers talking and men with dogs circling the cars.

They all seemed to be quick conversations while the drivers and the passengers showed papers, but they kept music playing in the car radios and it seemed like they were doing just fine. Now, the fifth stop is when it gets tricky. Oh boy. The engine switched off and Oleg could hear voices. They had reached customs. Oleg heard the officers talking and men with dogs circling the cars.

Now, one of the British officers started feeding chips to the dogs, while another complained with a Soviet official about the annoyance of students in Moscow. That was it? That was like, what did I like? They found his one niche thing that he loves to complain about, so he let him go? So finally, after what felt like an hour, the British officers climbed back inside.

Now, one of the British officers started feeding chips to the dogs, while another complained with a Soviet official about the annoyance of students in Moscow. That was it? That was like, what did I like? They found his one niche thing that he loves to complain about, so he let him go? So finally, after what felt like an hour, the British officers climbed back inside.

The car crossed from the highway to a dirt road. Wait, hold on. They didn't just check the trunk? Nope. Because the British spies were just like, hey, fucking students, am I right? They were both from like, I don't know, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn in this scenario. But there was also one more thing, which was that the British agents brought a baby with them.

The car crossed from the highway to a dirt road. Wait, hold on. They didn't just check the trunk? Nope. Because the British spies were just like, hey, fucking students, am I right? They were both from like, I don't know, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn in this scenario. But there was also one more thing, which was that the British agents brought a baby with them.

And while the guards were talking with the driver, she actually got out and gave the baby a diaper change on the trunk of the car. So the Soviet guards was just like, I don't like a baby. This is poop. I don't like to do this. So they didn't even make them open it. What? So they managed to talk their way out of it by complaining about students in Moscow and by feeding chips to the dogs. All right.

And while the guards were talking with the driver, she actually got out and gave the baby a diaper change on the trunk of the car. So the Soviet guards was just like, I don't like a baby. This is poop. I don't like to do this. So they didn't even make them open it. What? So they managed to talk their way out of it by complaining about students in Moscow and by feeding chips to the dogs. All right.

So finally, after all this tension, they're in a dirt road and they finally come to a stop outside a stand of pine trees. When the truck opened, Oleg was met by the friendly face of his English handler. He had just escaped the KGB. Yay. Good for you. Yay. But he had left his family behind.

So finally, after all this tension, they're in a dirt road and they finally come to a stop outside a stand of pine trees. When the truck opened, Oleg was met by the friendly face of his English handler. He had just escaped the KGB. Yay. Good for you. Yay. But he had left his family behind.

So because it was successful, Operation Pimlico is remembered as one of the most daring escapes of the Cold War. A lot of other KGB defectors died trying to escape. So it's kind of a miracle, like truly, that Gordievsky got out. Ever since, he's basically spent the rest of his life trying not to get killed by KGB assassins. Now, MI6 wasn't surprised, of course.

So because it was successful, Operation Pimlico is remembered as one of the most daring escapes of the Cold War. A lot of other KGB defectors died trying to escape. So it's kind of a miracle, like truly, that Gordievsky got out. Ever since, he's basically spent the rest of his life trying not to get killed by KGB assassins. Now, MI6 wasn't surprised, of course.

Like one officer said, he made absolute fools of the KGB. The only way that they did have to get back at him was to hold his family hostage. So Oleg started lobbying world leaders, asking them for help. He even flew to the U.S. and he went to the White House where he met with President Reagan and he asked for the U.S. to get his kids back.

Like one officer said, he made absolute fools of the KGB. The only way that they did have to get back at him was to hold his family hostage. So Oleg started lobbying world leaders, asking them for help. He even flew to the U.S. and he went to the White House where he met with President Reagan and he asked for the U.S. to get his kids back.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Like it's a, it might be an unreliable narrative sort of idea. Yeah, exactly. If it was true, then it's, it was a great detriment to the easing of tensions that you lost. Like one of the only guys in the room being like, guys, nobody's fucking fighting. You're good. Everybody's okay. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, like, unfortunately, he had to go to Britain to chill.

Like it's a, it might be an unreliable narrative sort of idea. Yeah, exactly. If it was true, then it's, it was a great detriment to the easing of tensions that you lost. Like one of the only guys in the room being like, guys, nobody's fucking fighting. You're good. Everybody's okay. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, like, unfortunately, he had to go to Britain to chill.