Kate Leinbaugh

That illegal used a hollow nickel for coded messages meant for the Soviets. And this kind of spy activity would be mythologized in Russian pop culture.

One of the viewers was a young Vladimir Putin. He was enthralled by the undercover super spy Stirlitz. The Soviet Union's answer to James Bond.

One of the viewers was a young Vladimir Putin. He was enthralled by the undercover super spy Stirlitz. The Soviet Union's answer to James Bond.

One of the viewers was a young Vladimir Putin. He was enthralled by the undercover super spy Stirlitz. The Soviet Union's answer to James Bond.

That's Drew and Joe again.

That's Drew and Joe again.

That's Drew and Joe again.

Putin wouldn't become an illegal, but he did manage deep cover agents abroad.

Putin wouldn't become an illegal, but he did manage deep cover agents abroad.

Putin wouldn't become an illegal, but he did manage deep cover agents abroad.

What does an illegal support officer do?

What does an illegal support officer do?

What does an illegal support officer do?

That's exactly how the mousy woman with the quiet composure ended up assuming her new identity. Using doctored records from a dead infant from a small Greek village 30 years earlier, Anna Doltseva, an elite officer in Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, became Maria Munoz, an Argentinian national.

That's exactly how the mousy woman with the quiet composure ended up assuming her new identity. Using doctored records from a dead infant from a small Greek village 30 years earlier, Anna Doltseva, an elite officer in Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, became Maria Munoz, an Argentinian national.

That's exactly how the mousy woman with the quiet composure ended up assuming her new identity. Using doctored records from a dead infant from a small Greek village 30 years earlier, Anna Doltseva, an elite officer in Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, became Maria Munoz, an Argentinian national.

The master spy would eventually reunite with her husband, her subordinate officer, a man born Artem Doltsev. Artem would later take the alias Ludwig.

The master spy would eventually reunite with her husband, her subordinate officer, a man born Artem Doltsev. Artem would later take the alias Ludwig.

The master spy would eventually reunite with her husband, her subordinate officer, a man born Artem Doltsev. Artem would later take the alias Ludwig.

Exactly. And for this wedding, they needed witnesses. So they invited a couple, some of the few friends they seemed to make. A Colombian couple met Maria and Ludwig through their kids. They told the journal about being invited as witnesses to the marriage.