The Illegals

Russia's Most Audacious Spies and Their Century-Long Mission to Infiltrate the West

By: Shaun Walker

Narrated by: Paul Thornley

ONE OF THE ECONOMIST'S BEST BOOKS OF 2025 • The definitive history of Russia’s most secret spy program, from the earliest days of the Soviet Union to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and a revelatory examination of how that hidden history shaped both Russia and the West.

More than a century ago, the new Bolshevik government began sending Soviet citizens abroad as deep-cover spies, training them to pose as foreign aristocrats, merchants, and students. Over time, this grew into the most ambitious espionage program in history. Many intelligence agencies use undercover operatives, but the KGB was the only one to go to such lengths, spending years training its spies in language and etiquette, and sending them abroad on missions that could last for decades. These spies were known as “illegals.” During the Second World War, illegals were dispatched behind enemy lines to assassinate high-ranking Nazis. Later, in the Cold War, they were sent to assimilate and lie low as sleepers in the West. The greatest among them performed remarkable feats, while many others failed in their missions or cracked under the strain of living a double life.

Drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews, as well as archival research in more than a dozen countries, Shaun Walker brings this history to life in a page-turning tour de force that takes us into the heart of the KGB’s most secretive program. A riveting spy drama peopled with richly drawn characters, The Illegals also uncovers a hidden thread in the story of Russia itself. As Putin extols Soviet achievements and the KGB’s espionage prowess, and Moscow continues to infiltrate illegals across the globe, this timely narrative shines new light on the long arc of the Soviet experiment, its messy aftermath, and its influence on our world at large.

Excellent history of Soviet/Russian illegals

Excellent history of Soviet/Russian illegals. The Soviets used them dating back to the 1920s to infiltrate countries to carry out assassinations and spy, and they have been used ever since by them and now the Russians. This book is well worth reading of you are interested in the topic.

Great history of “nelegali”!

Excellent overview of the Chekhist “proudest” aspect of their services…but one riddled with failure as Walker notes!

very intricate stories

such an in depth look at the history of spying. very interesting. it answered a lot of questions and left me with so many more

Thrilling history

This book surveys the last century of so of personal espionage (by which I mean effected at a human level). It is much more than the illegals, and I found it very compelling. Highly recommend.

Russia is No One's Friend

Fascinating history of Russian "illegals", elaborately trained agents embedded in western nations for the purpose of information gathering. Four takeaways: 1. If you meet worldly highly intelligent individuals (or couples) who speak several languages and are widely traveled, they could be spies 2. The US cannot pull off the same degree of infiltrating Russian society--US citizens would never be able to blend in like Russians do in our country 3. Putin is paranoid. The expense of training and embedding illegals is likely not worthwhile but Putin is certain the US and western world seek to destroy Russia and 4. Russia definitely interfered in the 2016 presidential election. They are savvy enough to use Trump as their tool. I enjoyed the book but the details got tedious at times, which is why I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 overall.