Shaun Walker

Yeah, many. I mean, it was a really kind of individual moment. So some of them decided to come home, be with their families. Others had a look at this choice and decided not to come home. Maybe in the way that Andrei and Yelena tell it, they were always patriotic and they were just waiting for for Russia to kind of come back to get back off its knees and they could spy again.

Yeah, many. I mean, it was a really kind of individual moment. So some of them decided to come home, be with their families. Others had a look at this choice and decided not to come home. Maybe in the way that Andrei and Yelena tell it, they were always patriotic and they were just waiting for for Russia to kind of come back to get back off its knees and they could spy again.

Yeah, many. I mean, it was a really kind of individual moment. So some of them decided to come home, be with their families. Others had a look at this choice and decided not to come home. Maybe in the way that Andrei and Yelena tell it, they were always patriotic and they were just waiting for for Russia to kind of come back to get back off its knees and they could spy again.

I think the reality was probably a little bit more complicated, I think, for a lot of these people.

I think the reality was probably a little bit more complicated, I think, for a lot of these people.

I think the reality was probably a little bit more complicated, I think, for a lot of these people.

they they looked and they saw okay well we've started building a life in the west we've got quite a comfortable life we've made solid foundations this is what we've spent years training to do we have kids who are born in the west so we can either stay here see what happens maybe russia and the us will become friends but then okay we don't need to be spies we'll just live this this other life that we've created for ourselves or we could go back to the soviet union which is in chaos where there's economic turmoil

they they looked and they saw okay well we've started building a life in the west we've got quite a comfortable life we've made solid foundations this is what we've spent years training to do we have kids who are born in the west so we can either stay here see what happens maybe russia and the us will become friends but then okay we don't need to be spies we'll just live this this other life that we've created for ourselves or we could go back to the soviet union which is in chaos where there's economic turmoil

they they looked and they saw okay well we've started building a life in the west we've got quite a comfortable life we've made solid foundations this is what we've spent years training to do we have kids who are born in the west so we can either stay here see what happens maybe russia and the us will become friends but then okay we don't need to be spies we'll just live this this other life that we've created for ourselves or we could go back to the soviet union which is in chaos where there's economic turmoil

where it's uncertain what will happen, where it's also at this stage, it's uncertain. I mean, will there be trials for top people in the KGB? Suddenly, the work they were doing that was seen as sort of patriotic, wonderful work, maybe it's not going to be viewed like that in the new Russia. So some of them maybe just decide to wait and see.

where it's uncertain what will happen, where it's also at this stage, it's uncertain. I mean, will there be trials for top people in the KGB? Suddenly, the work they were doing that was seen as sort of patriotic, wonderful work, maybe it's not going to be viewed like that in the new Russia. So some of them maybe just decide to wait and see.

where it's uncertain what will happen, where it's also at this stage, it's uncertain. I mean, will there be trials for top people in the KGB? Suddenly, the work they were doing that was seen as sort of patriotic, wonderful work, maybe it's not going to be viewed like that in the new Russia. So some of them maybe just decide to wait and see.

Perhaps they'll come back into the fold if and when there is a renewed demand for spying. Or maybe they will just start their new lives and their cover identities and no one will ever know that once upon a time they were from Siberia.

Perhaps they'll come back into the fold if and when there is a renewed demand for spying. Or maybe they will just start their new lives and their cover identities and no one will ever know that once upon a time they were from Siberia.

Perhaps they'll come back into the fold if and when there is a renewed demand for spying. Or maybe they will just start their new lives and their cover identities and no one will ever know that once upon a time they were from Siberia.

Yeah, so after this nearly quarter of a century of living in these cover identities, they're very comfortable, they've got the two kids, they think that everything is going very well. But of course, as with all spies, you're only ever one turncoat, one defector away from being exposed. And for some years, they'd actually, every move had been tracked by the FBI.

Yeah, so after this nearly quarter of a century of living in these cover identities, they're very comfortable, they've got the two kids, they think that everything is going very well. But of course, as with all spies, you're only ever one turncoat, one defector away from being exposed. And for some years, they'd actually, every move had been tracked by the FBI.

Yeah, so after this nearly quarter of a century of living in these cover identities, they're very comfortable, they've got the two kids, they think that everything is going very well. But of course, as with all spies, you're only ever one turncoat, one defector away from being exposed. And for some years, they'd actually, every move had been tracked by the FBI.

And this was a day, the FBI had been tracking illegals across the United States. There was about 10 of them. And this was finally the time the defector wanted to be exfiltrated. They needed to round them up. And this was the day in June 2010 that it was decided it was going to happen. So across the U.S., coordinated raids and arrests. And it's actually Tim, the oldest son. It's his 20th birthday.

And this was a day, the FBI had been tracking illegals across the United States. There was about 10 of them. And this was finally the time the defector wanted to be exfiltrated. They needed to round them up. And this was the day in June 2010 that it was decided it was going to happen. So across the U.S., coordinated raids and arrests. And it's actually Tim, the oldest son. It's his 20th birthday.