Mitrokhin’s notes provided evidence regarding the KGB’s potential involvement in the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II, detailing the disinformation campaigns used to implicate Bulgarian and Turkish intelligence.
The Mitrokhin Archive refers to a collection of documents and records compiled by Vasily Mitrokhin, a former KGB archivist. Mitrokhin defected to the United Kingdom in 1992 and took with him a vast collection of notes, documents, and files from the KGB archives. These documents, spanning several decades, reveal the inner workings of the Soviet Union's security agency, the KGB. mitrokhin archive pdf 2021
As of 2021, the Mitrokhin Archive stands as one of the most significant intelligence leaks of the 20th century. It transformed Cold War historiography, exposed unprosecuted spies, and provided a roadmap for understanding Soviet—and later Russian—influence operations. While not without its critics, its core revelations have withstood scrutiny. For researchers, policymakers, and journalists, the archive remains a vital—and cautionary—window into the mechanics of state secrecy and ideological warfare. These documents, spanning several decades, reveal the inner