A high-ranking KGB officer, codenamed Redwood, defected to Britain in 1981 after seeking help from MI6 for erectile dysfunction, according to a new book by Ben Macintyre.
The defection of Vladimir Kuzichkin, a 33-year-old KGB major, was pivotal in foiling a Soviet plot to overthrow Ayatollah Khomeini's government in Iran. The plan involved Soviet-backed Iranian communists and a potential military incursion by the Red Army from neighboring Soviet territories.
A Plot to Control the Strait of Hormuz
By the autumn of 1981, insurgents had amassed weapons and were prepared to act on Moscow's orders. Tanks were positioned on Iran's northern borders in Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, ready to advance. Had the plot succeeded, the Soviet Union would have gained control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf's oilfields, a scenario considered a significant threat to Western interests.
An Unexpected Contact
Six months prior to Kuzichkin's approach, MI6 had deployed agent Ian McCredie to the British embassy in Tehran. In an environment where all foreigners, particularly British and American diplomats, were viewed with suspicion, McCredie's presence was a bold move by Margaret Thatcher's government.
On October 1, 1981, Kuzichkin unexpectedly approached British diplomats at the Soviet embassy, offering to defect. MI6, initially wary of a potential trap, eventually authorized McCredie to make contact. McCredie met Kuzichkin in a quiet street, concealed him in a Land Rover, and transported him to the British embassy.
A Bizarre Request
Inside the embassy, in a room where McCredie suspected they were being monitored, Kuzichkin revealed details of the coup preparations and other KGB operations in Iran. He also handed over a Soviet embassy phone directory containing the names of over 100 operatives and diplomats.
However, Kuzichkin then made a personal request. He confided in McCredie about his struggles with erectile dysfunction and asked if MI6 could provide treatment, believing Western medicine to be superior. He stated that overcoming this personal issue was key to reviving his marital relations with his wife, Galina.
MI6's Response and Exfiltration
MI6 consulted its chief medical officer, who suggested red pills containing iron and vitamins. These were disguised in a ballpoint pen with medical advice in Russian and smuggled to Kuzichkin. While not a pharmaceutical cure, MI6 hoped for a placebo effect.
In the following months, MI6 analysts studied intelligence gathered by Kuzichkin, including photographed KGB documents. The stress of his defection and concerns about his wife, who may have discovered his activities, led Kuzichkin to activate a fallback plan. Fearing for his safety, he requested exfiltration across the Turkish border.
In October 1982, McCredie successfully arranged Kuzichkin's defection. The book notes that little is known about Kuzichkin's life in Britain thereafter.