Anatoli Yatskov
Encyclopedia
Anatoli A. Yakovlev (31 May 1913–26 March 1993) was General Consul of the Soviet Union
's delegation in New York City
in the 1940s. His diplomatic role was a cover for his true activities as an NKVD
Senior Case Officer for the Soviet
spy
network in the United States
during the 1940s until his return to the Soviet Union in 1946.
Yatskov began work in the central apparatus for external reconnaissance in 1940. In 1941 he was sent to the New York Rezidentura as an operational worker. He carried out critical operations on the acquisition of information on the Manhattan project
("ENORMOZ"). This information allowed Soviet scientists to obtain the highly useful data about the building of facilities for production of weapons-grade uranium
and plutonium
, and also directly on the production of the atomic bomb.
Yatskov collaborated with Harry Gold
, who stole industrial formulas from the Pennsylvania Sugar Company, and Soviet Union spy-master Alexander Feklisov in the infiltration of the United States' Manhattan Project
by having Gold liaise with scientist Klaus Fuchs
.
He also was one of the handlers of Julius Rosenberg and was originally named in the indictment against the Rosenbergs, Morton Sobell
and David Greenglass
. However, Yakovlev was excluded from the indictment due to diplomatic immunity
, and had, in any case, returned to the USSR four years prior to the indictment.
After returning to the Soviet Union
Yatskov continued to work in control of scientific and technical intelligence. He repeatedly was engaged in operational work in the countries of Europe
and Asia
.
Yatskov, in an interview in October 1992, before his death in March 1993, said the FBI uncovered "perhaps less than half" of his network. He referred to Perseus as a code name for a major source still alive.
Yatskov was awarded the Order of the October Revolution
, Order of the Red Banner of Labour
, and the Red Star
, and the badge of "Honorable State Security Agent".
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's delegation in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in the 1940s. His diplomatic role was a cover for his true activities as an NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
Senior Case Officer for the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
network in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the 1940s until his return to the Soviet Union in 1946.
Yatskov began work in the central apparatus for external reconnaissance in 1940. In 1941 he was sent to the New York Rezidentura as an operational worker. He carried out critical operations on the acquisition of information on the Manhattan project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
("ENORMOZ"). This information allowed Soviet scientists to obtain the highly useful data about the building of facilities for production of weapons-grade uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
and plutonium
Plutonium
Plutonium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with the chemical symbol Pu and atomic number 94. It is an actinide metal of silvery-gray appearance that tarnishes when exposed to air, forming a dull coating when oxidized. The element normally exhibits six allotropes and four oxidation...
, and also directly on the production of the atomic bomb.
Yatskov collaborated with Harry Gold
Harry Gold
Harry Gold was a laboratory chemist who was convicted of being the “courier” for a number of Soviet spy rings during the Manhattan Project.-Early life:Gold was born in Switzerland to poor Russian Jewish immigrants...
, who stole industrial formulas from the Pennsylvania Sugar Company, and Soviet Union spy-master Alexander Feklisov in the infiltration of the United States' Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
by having Gold liaise with scientist Klaus Fuchs
Klaus Fuchs
Klaus Emil Julius Fuchs was a German theoretical physicist and atomic spy who in 1950 was convicted of supplying information from the American, British and Canadian atomic bomb research to the USSR during and shortly after World War II...
.
He also was one of the handlers of Julius Rosenberg and was originally named in the indictment against the Rosenbergs, Morton Sobell
Morton Sobell
Morton Sobell is a former spy for the Soviet Union. Sobell was an American engineer working for General Electric and Reeves Electronics on military and government contracts. He was found guilty of spying for the Soviets , and sentenced to 30 years in prison...
and David Greenglass
David Greenglass
David Greenglass was an atomic spy for the Soviet Union who worked in the Manhattan project. He was the brother of Ethel Rosenberg.-Biography:...
. However, Yakovlev was excluded from the indictment due to diplomatic immunity
Diplomatic immunity
Diplomatic immunity is a form of legal immunity and a policy held between governments that ensures that diplomats are given safe passage and are considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the host country's laws...
, and had, in any case, returned to the USSR four years prior to the indictment.
After returning to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
Yatskov continued to work in control of scientific and technical intelligence. He repeatedly was engaged in operational work in the countries of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
Yatskov, in an interview in October 1992, before his death in March 1993, said the FBI uncovered "perhaps less than half" of his network. He referred to Perseus as a code name for a major source still alive.
Yatskov was awarded the Order of the October Revolution
Order of the October Revolution
The Order of the October Revolution was instituted on October 31, 1967, in time for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was awarded to individuals or groups for services furthering communism or the state, or in enhancing the defenses of the Soviet Union, military and civil...
, Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
, and the Red Star
Red star
A red star, five-pointed and filled, is an important ideological and religious symbol which has been used for various purposes, such as: state emblems, flags, monuments, ornaments, and logos.- Symbol of communism :...
, and the badge of "Honorable State Security Agent".