Monday, July 16, 2018

Before he became the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin was a KGB spy — take a look at his early career

Vladmir Putin sunglasses boat

  • Vladimir Putin was recruited as a KGB agent after graduating from university.
  • The current president of Russia served as an agent in East Germany for five years.
  • Putin's experience as a KGB operative may have helped to mold his worldview.


Vladimir Putin's KGB career may have ended decades ago, but that didn't stop the Russian president from citing his spy credentials during Monday's press conference with US president Donald Trump.

Dissmissing the idea that Trump's presidential campaign colluded with Russia in 2016 and disputing the credibility of the Steele dossier, Putin said, "I was an intelligence officer myself, and I know how dossiers are made up."

Russia is accused of hacking the DNC's emails and engaging in other forms of cyber subversion in order to throw the race to Trump. A series of politically-charged and disinformation-spreading social media groups and advertising campaigns have been traced back to Russia.

Putin has denied hacking the election. Trump has argued that he "doesn't see any reason" why Putin would meddle in the election, despite the consensus of the US intelligence community that Russia interfered in order to ensure a Republican victory.

Here's a look into Putin's early career as a KGB spy:

SEE ALSO: Vladimir Putin's hard-core daily routine includes hours of swimming, late nights, and no alcohol

As a teenager, Putin was captivated by the novel and film series "The Shield and the Sword," writes Steven Lee Myers in "The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin."

Source: "The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin"



The story focuses on a brave Soviet secret agent who helps thwart the Nazis.

Source: "The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin"



Putin later said he was struck by how "one spy could decide the fate of thousands of people."

Source: "The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin"



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

source http://www.businessinsider.com/vladimir-putin-kgb-spy-2017-9

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