Arturo Castro

Okay, slow motion affair. Got it. So Oleg was leaving the Soviets for the British, and he was also leaving his first wife for Leila. Also, women named Leila tended to make men in the 70s go insane. Sure. George Harrison, Eric Clapton, you know, which is also a crazy story in and of itself. Her name was actually Patti Void, but whatever. Leila. Something in the way she moves. Mashup.

Okay, slow motion affair. Got it. So Oleg was leaving the Soviets for the British, and he was also leaving his first wife for Leila. Also, women named Leila tended to make men in the 70s go insane. Sure. George Harrison, Eric Clapton, you know, which is also a crazy story in and of itself. Her name was actually Patti Void, but whatever. Leila. Something in the way she moves. Mashup.

So after four years in 1978, things were going really well for both of them, right? But Oleg was recalled to Russia. So pack your bags, Ed. We're going to the Kremlin.

So after four years in 1978, things were going really well for both of them, right? But Oleg was recalled to Russia. So pack your bags, Ed. We're going to the Kremlin.

Oleg was stationed in Moscow for the next few years, and he spent his time building his new family with Leila.

Oleg was stationed in Moscow for the next few years, and he spent his time building his new family with Leila.

Yeah, yeah. They were married in 1979, and their first daughter was born the next year. Now, meanwhile, she had no idea that he was actually a double agent between the Soviet Union for the British. And Oleg was never really comfortable in Russia anymore, so he wanted to be back in England.

Yeah, yeah. They were married in 1979, and their first daughter was born the next year. Now, meanwhile, she had no idea that he was actually a double agent between the Soviet Union for the British. And Oleg was never really comfortable in Russia anymore, so he wanted to be back in England.

He's like, yes, yes, yes, democracy. But what about the gay porn? Where can we get this?

He's like, yes, yes, yes, democracy. But what about the gay porn? Where can we get this?

Exactly. So in the summer of 1981, Oleg passed this super spy English exam that qualified him for a post at the Russian embassy in London. And this is what you're talking about. So by that fall, his second daughter was born and the KGB were finally convinced that the new marriage was more solid than the first one.

Exactly. So in the summer of 1981, Oleg passed this super spy English exam that qualified him for a post at the Russian embassy in London. And this is what you're talking about. So by that fall, his second daughter was born and the KGB were finally convinced that the new marriage was more solid than the first one.

This feels like a weird detail, but it was important because it helped the KGB decide that Oleg could be trusted, right? They're like, if he can make two marriages work, he can do this.

This feels like a weird detail, but it was important because it helped the KGB decide that Oleg could be trusted, right? They're like, if he can make two marriages work, he can do this.

Yeah, of course. More collateral.

Yeah, of course. More collateral.

Exactly. And they're like, well, this man wasn't happy in his first marriage. He left and created a second marriage. This is a reliable man. So they let him take the job in London, and because if there's anything to be said about the KGB, it's that they're romantics. Finally, when Oleg arrived in London in June 1982, he was in easy reach of his British spy friends.

Exactly. And they're like, well, this man wasn't happy in his first marriage. He left and created a second marriage. This is a reliable man. So they let him take the job in London, and because if there's anything to be said about the KGB, it's that they're romantics. Finally, when Oleg arrived in London in June 1982, he was in easy reach of his British spy friends.

Now he could pass them even more information at even lower risk. The British spies decided to switch it up with his nickname, with his codename, and the new codename was Nocton. This was his British codename. Okay. So the Brits were passing along until to the CIA too. And the Americans didn't know Nocton's identity, which is important later.

Now he could pass them even more information at even lower risk. The British spies decided to switch it up with his nickname, with his codename, and the new codename was Nocton. This was his British codename. Okay. So the Brits were passing along until to the CIA too. And the Americans didn't know Nocton's identity, which is important later.