The KGB operational deputy who bridged foreign intelligence and counterintelligence
On the afternoon of 18 August 1991, Defence Minister Yazov ordered Airborne Forces commander Grachev to execute the Kremlin's coup plan — adding: "Coordinate with KGB Deputy Chairmen Grushko and Ageev."
A Soviet intelligence officer who commanded both the PGU (foreign intelligence) and VGU (counterintelligence), the KGB's two operational main directorates. Born to a turner's family in Taganrog, he graduated from MGIMO and began as a diplomat in Norway before joining the KGB in 1960, rising through Oslo residency to chief of the 3rd (Anglo-Scandinavian) Department and First Deputy Chief of the PGU. In 1989, under Vladimir Kryuchkov, he took charge of the Second Chief Directorate (counterintelligence) as Deputy Chairman, and in January 1991 became First Deputy Chairman, the KGB's top operational post. He was arrested for participating in the August 1991 GKChP coup, suffered two heart attacks in detention, and was released on health grounds before being amnestied in 1994.
Activities and affiliations
Career Timeline
- 1954–1960Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy in Norway
- 1960–1961Graduated KGB School No. 101, assigned to 3rd Department, PGU KGB
- 1968–1971Deputy Resident, KGB Oslo (political intelligence)
- 1971–1972Resident, KGB Oslo
- 1975–1980Chief, 3rd Department, PGU KGB (UK & Scandinavia)
- 1983–1989First Deputy Chief, PGU KGB
- 1989–1991Deputy Chairman of KGB, Chief of Second Chief Directorate (counterintelligence)
- 1991.1–1991.8First Deputy Chairman of KGB
Related historical events
The GKChP coup attempt and detention
Appointed First Deputy Chairman of the KGB in January 1991, Grushko was a senior official under chairman Vladimir Kryuchkov, who took part in the August coup attempt as a member of the State Committee on the State of Emergency (GKChP). Grushko was arrested on 24 August in the GKChP case, held at Moscow's Matrosskaya Tishina detention facility, and removed from his post on 28 August. Contemporary reporting said he was jailed along with Kryuchkov. Authorities charged him in the GKChP case; on 10 January 1992 he was released from custody on health grounds. A biographical account says he suffered two heart attacks in detention, although the available contemporary report gives no details of his treatment in custody. In 1994, the Russian State Duma granted him amnesty.