Kate Leinbaugh

The high-stakes assignment came suddenly in early spring 2022. Weeks earlier, Russia launched its ground invasion of Ukraine.

And what he learned at that meeting made his heart race.

And what he learned at that meeting made his heart race.

And what he learned at that meeting made his heart race.

MI6 either would not or could not tell Kadyvnik names, only that the two Russians were hiding under deep cover as illegals.

MI6 either would not or could not tell Kadyvnik names, only that the two Russians were hiding under deep cover as illegals.

MI6 either would not or could not tell Kadyvnik names, only that the two Russians were hiding under deep cover as illegals.

In Kadyvnik's world, this was as urgent and as complicated as it gets. British and American intelligence were now counting on his tiny team to find the illegals and arrest them. So he gets this monumental, impossible task. What does he do?

In Kadyvnik's world, this was as urgent and as complicated as it gets. British and American intelligence were now counting on his tiny team to find the illegals and arrest them. So he gets this monumental, impossible task. What does he do?

In Kadyvnik's world, this was as urgent and as complicated as it gets. British and American intelligence were now counting on his tiny team to find the illegals and arrest them. So he gets this monumental, impossible task. What does he do?

What Kudivnik couldn't have known then was that his targets were operating right under his nose, less than three miles from his office. The Doltsevs had been careful. Neighbors saw a quiet Argentinian family, nothing much to see. But their cover began to unravel when the family went on vacation.

What Kudivnik couldn't have known then was that his targets were operating right under his nose, less than three miles from his office. The Doltsevs had been careful. Neighbors saw a quiet Argentinian family, nothing much to see. But their cover began to unravel when the family went on vacation.

What Kudivnik couldn't have known then was that his targets were operating right under his nose, less than three miles from his office. The Doltsevs had been careful. Neighbors saw a quiet Argentinian family, nothing much to see. But their cover began to unravel when the family went on vacation.

For the Daltzevs, it would be the perfect cover. Russia was hosting the World Cup. The family could blend in with a crush of other tourists. They were, after all, just a family of Argentinian football fans. And as fate would have it, the match was being played in Maria's real hometown.

For the Daltzevs, it would be the perfect cover. Russia was hosting the World Cup. The family could blend in with a crush of other tourists. They were, after all, just a family of Argentinian football fans. And as fate would have it, the match was being played in Maria's real hometown.

For the Daltzevs, it would be the perfect cover. Russia was hosting the World Cup. The family could blend in with a crush of other tourists. They were, after all, just a family of Argentinian football fans. And as fate would have it, the match was being played in Maria's real hometown.

But the spies made a bad miscalculation.

But the spies made a bad miscalculation.

But the spies made a bad miscalculation.

As they were getting their travel documents in order, they opted to travel on Russian diplomatic passports. The couple flew under their real names, not as Maria and Ludwig, but as Anna and Artem Doltsev. Why would they do that? They'd been so careful. Why would they fly on Russian diplomatic passports?