Arkady Shevchenko

Arkady Shevchenko was a high-ranking Soviet diplomat who became one of the most significant defectors to the West during the Cold War. In 1978, he abandoned his position as Under Secretary General of the United Nations and sought asylum in the United States. Prior to his defection, Shevchenko held prominent roles in Soviet diplomatic circles, serving as an advisor to Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko and representing the USSR in various international forums. His position granted him intimate knowledge of Soviet leadership and policy-making processes during the Brezhnev era. After defecting, Shevchenko authored "Breaking With Moscow" (1985), a memoir that provided Western readers with detailed insights into Soviet diplomatic operations and the inner workings of the Kremlin. The book became a bestseller and remains a significant primary source for understanding Cold War diplomacy from a Soviet insider's perspective. For nearly three years before his final defection, Shevchenko had secretly collaborated with U.S. intelligence while maintaining his UN position, making him one of the highest-ranking Soviet officials to ever work with American intelligence services. He spent his remaining years in the United States, where he worked as a consultant and writer until his death in 1998.

Readers value Shevchenko's "Breaking With Moscow" for its firsthand account of Soviet diplomatic operations. The unique insider perspective on Kremlin decision-making and UN operations draws particular interest. What readers liked: - Detailed descriptions of Soviet bureaucracy and power structures - Personal accounts of interactions with key Soviet leaders - Clear explanations of Cold War diplomatic maneuvering - Insights into the defection process What readers disliked: - Writing style can be dry and technical - Some sections focus too heavily on administrative details - Questions about reliability of certain claims - Limited personal reflection on moral implications Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (287 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (96 reviews) One reader noted: "The bureaucratic minutiae might bore some, but they authenticate his account." Another commented: "His perspective on Gromyko and Brezhnev feels genuine, though some passages read like government reports rather than memoir."

Breaking with Moscow (1985) A firsthand account of Shevchenko's life as a Soviet diplomat, his disillusionment with the Communist system, and his eventual defection to the United States while serving as Under Secretary General of the United Nations.

Vladimir Bukovsky wrote about Soviet dissidence and defection from first-hand experience as a prominent defector. His works detail internal KGB operations and Soviet power structures similar to Shevchenko's insider accounts.

Ion Mihai Pacepa served as head of Romanian intelligence before defecting to the US and writing exposés about Soviet bloc operations. His accounts of intelligence activities and life as a high-ranking defector parallel Shevchenko's revelations.

Victor Kravchenko defected from the Soviet Union while serving as a trade official and wrote about Soviet bureaucracy from within. His memoir "I Chose Freedom" examines similar themes of disillusionment with the Soviet system that Shevchenko explored.

Alexander Barmine worked as a Soviet diplomat before defecting and writing about Soviet diplomatic and intelligence operations. His work "One Who Survived" provides comparable insights into Soviet foreign service and eventual defection.

Stanislav Levchenko operated as a KGB officer in Japan before defecting to the United States in 1979. His writings focus on Soviet intelligence tactics and the personal cost of defection, themes that align with Shevchenko's accounts.