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True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics

The Drunk in Department V | KGB

True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics

SPYSCAPE

True Crime, Society & Culture, Documentary, History

4.62.9K Ratings

🗓️ 18 November 2025

⏱️ 44 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Author and filmmaker Richard Kerbaj tells the story of Oleg Lyalin - the hard-living, womanising KGB officer whose defection changed the course of the Cold War, and shaped the future of intelligence agencies on both sides of the Atlantic. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series producer: Joe Foley. Produced by Max Bower. Richard Kerbaj is the author of The Defector: The untold story of the KGB agent who saved MI5 and changed the Cold War. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

T'was the holidays at Starbucks red aprons tied up, warm wishes and names written on festive red cups.

0:09.2

The chocolatey mousse latte is here to cozy things up, topped with mokker cream moose for a finishing touch.

0:16.6

Two lattes in hand, one for you and one for me, because together truly is the best place to be.

0:24.3

The holidays are served, now at Starbucks.

0:27.4

Subject to availability while stocks last.

0:30.4

Disclaimer.

0:31.6

This episode contains strong language throughout.

0:35.5

This is true spies.

0:39.3

The podcast that takes you deep inside the greatest secret missions of all time.

0:44.9

Week by week, you'll hear the true stories behind the operations that have shaped the world we live in.

0:51.9

You'll meet the people who live life undercover. What do they know? What are their

0:58.2

skills? And what would you do in their position? I'm Rihanna Needs and this is True Spies from Spyscape Studios.

1:20.4

London, 1971.

1:24.7

Two police officers are on their usual route,

1:28.4

patrolling the bustling streets of the British capital in their panda car. An evening during bank holiday weekend in late August. The scene is typical,

1:37.7

revellers in the street, black cabs picking up a fare, garbage collectors on the late shift. Turning into Tottencourt Road, in the

1:46.8

middle of the city, the officers spot something suspicious. Driving in front is an old Hillman's

1:53.2

saloon, without any lights on. And not only that... His car was sort of wobbling along.

2:06.6

Watching the decrepit machine meander down the street, the police car flashes its siren. The saloon car pulls over.

2:09.6

Stepping out of their patrol vehicle, the two officers approached the driver's side.

2:13.6

Tapping on the window, the officer's torch reveals a man in the driver's seat. A glamorous young

2:21.1

blonde woman sat beside him. Immediately, the driver becomes agitated, aggressive. He refused to

...

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