The Lubyanka building (former KGB headquarters) in Moscow, where Stashinsky received his orders from. Photo by Alexander Savin / CC BY-SA 3.0.
In the fall of 1961, Bogdan (or Bohdan) Stashinsky made a bold and perilous escape to West Germany, an act that would not only alter the course of his life but also send ripples through the murky waters of international espionage. As a KGB assassin, his defection was monumental, illuminating the shadowy operations of Soviet intelligence.
Background
In 1950, Stashinsky, a 19-year-old Ukrainian student at the time, was arrested for riding a train without a ticket. The local authorities handed him over to the KGB, who threatened to arrest his family unless he agreed to work for them. Over the next several years, Stashinsky infiltrated the anti-Communist underground, ultimately gaining the trust of the KGB.
Stashinsky’s KGB handlers were primarily based out of Moscow, the headquarters of the KGB. He received his orders and instructions directly from there. Additionally, he was stationed in East Germany for a period, where he perfected his knowledge of German and carried out some of his assignments.
Eventually, the KGB decided he could be relied upon and provided him with a top-secret specialized KGB weapon. This weapon employed a small aluminum cylinder that sprayed a jet of liquid cyanide. When directed at a person’s face or chest, the vapors resulted in rapid death. This weapon employed a small aluminum cylinder that sprayed a jet of liquid cyanide. When directed at a person’s face or chest, the vapors resulted in rapid death. A CIA report noted that this method might allow the victim a brief moment to scream before succumbing. This method ensured there were no visible marks or traces left on the victim, making the cause of death seem natural. Stashinsky tested this deadly device on a dog in the woods outside Karlshorst. The ingenious device allowed Stashinsky to carry out the killings in broad daylight without raising suspicion.
The Assassinations
Stashinsky’s deadly missions began with the assassination of Lev Rebet in 1957. Rebet was a prominent Ukrainian nationalist leader and a fervent opponent of Soviet control over Ukraine. Rebet’s death was initially thought to be of natural causes until Stashinsky’s confession revealed the chilling truth.
Two years later, in 1959, Stashinsky was tasked with eliminating another significant Ukrainian figure, Stepan Bandera. Bandera was a leading member of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and an unwavering advocate for Ukrainian independence. Once again, Stashinsky used the poison-spray gun, demonstrating the KGB’s meticulous planning and the assassin’s cold efficiency.
These assassinations were executed under direct orders from the KGB headquarters in Moscow, with the full knowledge and approval of high-ranking Soviet officials, including KGB Chairman Aleksandr Shelepin and Premier Nikita Khrushchev.
Escape and Defection
Stashinsky’s journey to defection was driven by personal and political motivations. His relationship with Inge Pohl, an East German woman, became a focal point of his life. Despite the KGB’s efforts to keep him under strict control, Stashinsky’s desire to marry Pohl and live a normal life grew stronger. The couple’s marriage was seen as a liability by the KGB, and their apartment was bugged to monitor their conversations.
Increasingly disillusioned with the Soviet regime and facing immense pressure, Stashinsky and his wife decided to escape. They managed to evade the watchful eyes of the KGB and made their way to West Germany, where they sought asylum.
The Trial and International Impact
Upon his defection, Stashinsky was handed over to the CIA, who debriefed him extensively. The revelations he provided were staggering. Stashinsky’s testimony implicated the highest echelons of Soviet power in orchestrating political assassinations abroad. The West German authorities decided to put him on trial, and the courtroom became a stage for one of the most sensational espionage cases of the Cold War.
The trial received extensive media coverage, bringing the covert operations of the KGB into the public eye. Stashinsky’s detailed accounts of his missions, the methods employed, and the involvement of top Soviet officials shocked the world. The case became a stark reminder of the lengths to which the Soviet Union would go to silence its opponents. Stashinsky was convicted of murder but received a relatively lenient sentence of eight years in prison, which was later reduced to six years due to his cooperation with authorities. He served four years in prison before being released in 1966.
The Stashinsky case had profound implications for the KGB. The exposure of their assassination tactics forced the organization to reevaluate and modify its methods abroad. The case also dealt a severe blow to the career of Aleksandr Shelepin, who had been the KGB Chairman during the assassinations. Shelepin, known for his ambition and ruthlessness, saw his influence wane as a result of the scandal. The political fallout from the Stashinsky case contributed to his eventual removal from key positions of power.
Legacy
Bogdan Stashinsky’s defection and the subsequent trial left an indelible mark on the world of international espionage. The revelations it brought to light had a lasting impact on Cold War politics, intelligence operations, and popular culture.
Stashinsky’s story resonated beyond the world of politics and espionage, inspiring various works of fiction. One notable example is Ian Fleming’s last James Bond novel, The Man with the Golden Gun, in which Bond faces a brainwashed assassin armed with a cyanide pistol—a clear nod to Stashinsky’s deadly weapon.
Resource
Central Intelligence Agency
CIA.gov