On 13 January, 1971, KGB Chairman Yuri Andropov issued a memorandum to the Central Committee of the CPSU on the intensification of the activities of Moscow correspondents of foreign media to collect information from “antisocial elements” (Andrei Sakharov, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in particular) during preparations for the 24th Congress of the CPSU. TheContinue reading "1971 KGB Memo Alerts CPSU to Planned Western Anti-Soviet Campaign"
Genesis of COSMOS 110: Exposing 4-Legged Cosmonauts in Space to Radiation Belts for 22 Days
Today's document is actually a packet of documents, written 60 years ago on the cusp of a Soviet space experiment to study the effects of long-term radiation exposure of one-cell organisms and "biochemically and biologically important matter." The experiment would take place as part of the Cosmos 110 flight program, to be launched approximately oneContinue reading "Genesis of COSMOS 110: Exposing 4-Legged Cosmonauts in Space to Radiation Belts for 22 Days"
Russia and Serbia: After the Parade and Beyond – Carnegie Politika
Photo: Getty Images Another in our series of translations of the latest Carnegie Politika articles. After the Parade. Why Russia Accused Serbia of Betrayal. Considering that Serbian shells for Ukraine became public knowledge back in early 2023, Moscow had no reason to lose its temper and punish Vucic. In fact, it did not punish him,Continue reading "Russia and Serbia: After the Parade and Beyond – Carnegie Politika"
Chernobyl: KGB Inexplicably Seeks to Prevent Departure of Foreign Students, Downplays Radiation Threat, 30 April 1986
The following is a translated special report from the head of the KGB of the Ukrainian SSR for Kyiv and Kyiv region L. Bykhov to the first secretary of the Kyiv City Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine Yu. Yelchenko regarding the growing panic among visiting British students in connection with the Chernobyl accident.Continue reading "Chernobyl: KGB Inexplicably Seeks to Prevent Departure of Foreign Students, Downplays Radiation Threat, 30 April 1986"
Russia’s Precarious Dance with Yemen – Carnegie Politika
Another in our series of translations of the latest Carnegie Politika articles. Their War and Ours: What Russia is Counting on in the Yemen Conflict Russia, along with Iran, has become one of the few countries actively interacting with the Houthis, including at the diplomatic level. This closeness makes contacts with Russia important for otherContinue reading "Russia’s Precarious Dance with Yemen – Carnegie Politika"
Rust on Red Square: Celebrating the Anniversary of the Day a Cessna Buzzed the Soviet Kremlin
It's always an interesting exercise to reflect on just what happened to plant an 18-year-old West German lad in the cockpit of a Cessna to attempt to land on Kremlin grounds on this day in 1987, when the Cold War was still at its height. Was it a test of Gorbachev's will amid a growingContinue reading "Rust on Red Square: Celebrating the Anniversary of the Day a Cessna Buzzed the Soviet Kremlin"
Casting Blame for the Chernobyl Disaster: Foreign Students in Ukraine Chime In
On 30 April 1986, less than four full days after the explosion that rocked the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, an official with the 5th Directorate of the Ukrainian KGB penned a Secret report based on human intelligence sources regarding wild rumors on the source of the catastrophe that had been already been spreading throughout theContinue reading "Casting Blame for the Chernobyl Disaster: Foreign Students in Ukraine Chime In"
Ukrainian KGB Tries to Keep Track of Panicky Foreigners Days After the Chernobyl Disaster
On 26 April 1986, the landscape of Pripyat, in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, would change forever. Pripyat was home to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, whose Number 4 reactor exploded that day, setting off a chain of horrific events that would cause insurmountable damage and impact tens of thousands of innocent lives. Never oneContinue reading "Ukrainian KGB Tries to Keep Track of Panicky Foreigners Days After the Chernobyl Disaster"
From Russia With Angst – Someone Else’s Deal: What Russia Wants From the US-Iran Nuclear Deal – Carnegie Politika
One last fresh Carnegie Politika article that we felt were worth translating and posting. Hope you enjoy them. Back to the standard fare tomorrow. Someone Else's Deal: What Russia Wants From the US-Iran Nuclear Deal Moscow is not thrilled about the prospect of sanctions on Tehran being lifted, but if a deal is inevitable, itContinue reading "From Russia With Angst – Someone Else’s Deal: What Russia Wants From the US-Iran Nuclear Deal – Carnegie Politika"
Whither Moldova? – Time for Deals: How Moldova Wound Up Between Trump and Putin – Carnegie Politika
Photo: Getty Images Today we bring another excellent piece from Carnegie Politika, from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP). Remember, if you're interested in watching and learning about the history unfolding before your eyes, consider subscribing to CEIP’s news feeds or podcasts. We bring our unauthorized translations of Carnegie Politika's excellent journalism to ourContinue reading "Whither Moldova? – Time for Deals: How Moldova Wound Up Between Trump and Putin – Carnegie Politika"
Translating History 