KGB

The KGB, short for Komitet gosudarstvennoy bezopasnosti (Committee for State Security), was the principal security and intelligence agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until its dissolution in 1991. It combined functions of state security, foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, undercover operations, and border protection, and it played a central role in both internal security and foreign policy.

Origins and structure: The KGB emerged from earlier Soviet security ministries, notably the NKGB and MGB, and was reorganized in 1954 to oversee comprehensive state security. Its directorates covered internal security and counterintelligence, foreign intelligence (notably the First Chief Directorate), and various protective and security services. The KGB also included the Border Guards, which operated as part of its security apparatus.

Activities: The KGB conducted surveillance, espionage, and covert operations, both abroad and within the Soviet Union. It was involved in political policing, censorship oversight, detention and interrogation of dissidents, and the protection of state secrets. Its work extended to intelligence gathering, influence operations, and counterintelligence aimed at foreign spies and domestic traitors.

Dissolution and legacy: Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the KGB was dissolved. Its responsibilities were divided among new Russian security agencies: primarily the Federal Security Service (FSB) for internal security and counterintelligence, and the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) for external intelligence. The organization’s legacy continues to shape perceptions of state security and intelligence in post-Soviet states, and it remains a prominent reference point in Cold War history. Notable leaders included Yuri Andropov (1967–1982) and Vladimir Kryuchkov (1988–1991).