SOVIET INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY COL V. I. KONOVALOV
Document Type:
Keywords:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
0001510417
Release Decision:
RIFPUB
Original Classification:
U
Document Page Count:
5
Document Creation Date:
June 22, 2015
Document Release Date:
December 15, 2008
Sequence Number:
Case Number:
F-2008-00388
Publication Date:
July 15, 1958
File:
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
DOC_0001510417.pdf | 289.02 KB |
Body:
~4 _3 3'O i16 7~
Internal Ref No
0+ - 117
by A.R. Stirling. MA-4
dal ?-$$~lf~t"796~t""""""""
REMOVED Fh..d
CRAB TILES
J SOVIIsr INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY 1
1\ Col P.I. KONOVAWV l
APPROVED FOR
RELEASE^DATE:
04-Nov-2008
II. BACKGROUND
2. Name- Vladimir Ivanovich XONOVALOV
Rank: Colonel
Source: A clandestine source of established authenticity.
Date of Information: August 1955 - 1956
1. INTRODUCTION
1. This report, based on information available from this source as of
u J1t1 58, is one of a series on senior mi3itary.intelligence and KGB
officers in East Germany.
Date. of Birth: Estimated 1900-1905
Assignment: Chief of a technical military intelligence department,
BEM IN (Details on the nature of KOIfOVALOV' a duties
will be the subject of a separate report).
3. Family Details: No positive 3nforimtioi has been supplied by
source on KONOVALOV's marital status. A possible reference to his wife was
contained in a conversation ^n 7 Oct 55 with Maj Can N. I, Chief,
Operations Department, Sixth Directorate, GRU, in which KONOVAT.OV stated
that he "and Gal.ina Fedor^vna" had waited in vain for the general the
previous day. The general, who was on an official visit to the DDR,
explained that he had been "in your, area", - KARLSHORST, but not until late
in.the evening and then had to rush'off. It was not clear, however.,
whether KONOVALOV was expecting a ~urely social visit from the General.
rop t conhnr sew,
Copy no. 1 3
Hcj 902d CI?C (i . {
TSC . - 26883 -.~
4-. in the exchange of greetings and congratulations for Red Any Day,
Maj Gen G.K.TSINEV.(See Para 17) sent his greetiaags to all KONOVALOV's family.
III.. MOVEMENTS AND GTH t ACPIVITIES
5. Throughout the period covered by this report reverences in source material
to movements by KONOVALOV are limited to two trips to the KGB Third (CI)
Directorate, POTSDAM, one visit to HQ, GSFGVo attend a party meeting
convened by the C-in-C, Marshal and one period of leave. This
short list should be qualified, however, y source's restricted coverage of
KONOVALOV'a activities.
6. On 30 Sep 55 ONOVALOV was asked by Col LA SERGE V a Military Intelli-
gence officer and/of the Soviet Liaison Office with Foreign Missions, whether-
he ever came "to these districts" (i.e. POTSDAM). KONOVALOV replied that he
had been to TSINEV's, place twice and that was all. , The grounds for one of-
these visits was amplified by KONOVALOV during a conversation with TSINEV on
2 Aug 55. He said that he had just been to TSINEV'a place in connection
with Lt Col D'YATLBV (fnu, pro bly KGB, LE PZIG) since Nikolai Ivnnovich
(probably Col N.I VUSILOV rdinate to KONOVALOV) was leaving early the
next day. T3~3 that the order had already been given "there", but
Nikolai Ivanovich should apply not to D'YATLEV, who was on leave, but to his
deputy Capt I.M. FOHN (KGB, LEIPZIG), to whom TSINEV had spoken.
7. On 12/13 Dec X9'an unidentified officer from KONOVALOV's unit remarked
to Col V I.SMfRNOVV of Intelligence Directorate, HQ, GSFG, that KONOVALOV had.
gone on rea , At' least some of his leave was spent in the DDR, since,
while still on leave, he telephoned. Mai Gen TSINEV on 31 December from BE1 flI.
There is evidence that at some previous date KONOVALOV had enjoyed the amen=
ties of the "Fabritsius" (Sanatorium or Hotel) at SOCHI: he agreed with -
Mai -Gen K.TH who had returned Pram a vacation there, that it was
"a fine place
8, KONOVALOV was one of the officers informed by the duty officer, Intel '
genoe Directorate M. GSFO, that a party meeting convened by Marshal A.A.
GRBCH Q, C-in-C, GBFG had been postponed for two days to 12 Mar 56.. The
marshal was going to "give an account of his impressions," presumably of
the 20th Party Congress. -
9, On 23 Nov 55 KONOVALOV said that he had received an invitation and
intended to go to the Party "aktiv" at "Comrade PUSUKEN's place" (Soviet
sssy, BHRE.IN). .
10.' KONOVALOV received invitations to both the 1955 reception in connection
with the October Revolution, held at the Soviet Embassy, and the reception
on iced Army Day, 1956, organised by the Soviet garrison, BEfIII.
IV, OTHER PERSONAL PARTICULARS
11. Career:
KONOVALOV joined the Red?Arny in November 1930. On 6 Nov 55. he gave.
a party in BERLIN to celebrate. his 25 years' service. This event bad.ovi-
dently made little impact on Main Intelligence Directorate, NW-,0W, however,
since it required the unsolicited efforts of Mai Gen N A7)V, chief of
another military intelligence unit in BERLIN, to get KONOVALOV's name sub-
witted to Cadres Directorate, Main Intelligence Directorate, for a decoration.
3/.......
1523 f9:.
Col EA&YULUBOV, Deputy Chief of the Intelligence Directorate, HQ, GSFG said
that XONOMAZOV could not expect to receive his decoration until May 1959
because it took six months to formalise the papers.
12. There was evidence that KONOVALOV had been an instructor at a school
or establishment at one time. This'was borne out by a conversation between
KONOVALOV and Lt Col I K. GON , another military intelligence officer in
the Soviet Liaison Office, POTSDAM, in which a former instructor-pupil
relationship clearly emerged. This former role may have a bearing on
KONOVALOV's interest in the well-being of Lt Gen M.A. KOOHBTKOV, Chief of the
Training Department, Main Intelligence Directorate, which was expressed
during a discussion with Mai Gen SIfRSTNEV.
13. Education and Accent;
No information is available from source on KONOVALOV's educational
background other than that he is a well,educated tan apparently belonging to
the better class of Soviet Society. He speaks in a very polished manner,
with a Great-Russian (MOSCOW) accent and never indulges in vulgarity or
swearing.
V. CHARACTER AND BFFICI iCY
14. An assessment of KONOVALOV's'character, based on source material,"
establishes considerable independence and self-assurance in his make-up
which is probably coupled with modesty where it concerns personal achievement..
This latter charaoteristia was attributed to KONOVALOV on one occasion by
Mai Gen CHEKMAZOV (See Para 1i) who, when suggesting that a decoration might
be awarded. to his, explained that KOHOVALOV "feels shy about saying anything
himself". Although this is only a single piece of rather tenuous evidence
it is perhaps supported by KONOVALOV's consistency in the role of an attentive
and good listener. That his politeness does not descend to servility when.
conversing with his superiors, however, is clear from his discussions with
Mai Gen A. B,CHBOHBNTSEV, Chief, Intelligence Directorate, HQ, GSF'G,?with.
whom he spoke on eq> terms, and Maj Can SHERSTNEV.
15. KONOVALOV proved to be qu and efficient in answering verbal questions
put to him by Col. ~~~SMIRNLIV Chief, Operations Department, Intelligence
Directorate, ~HQ, GSFG,? with'whom he was in frequent contact.' No material
is available from source, however, which permits an accurate assessment
of his abil.ities,in general.
VI. FRIMS AND CONTACTS
16. Source material provides no information on KONOVALOVts more intimate'
friendships; those who do not appear as friends or contacts of a sort were
with one exception, confined to his own service,
17. The exception concerns Mai Gen TSINEV, Chief, KGB Third (I) Directorate,
POTSDAM, who was. obviously a good friend and highly regarded by KONOVALOV:
This can be concluded from the fact that on the eve of each of the three
celebration days, October Revolution, New Year, and Red Army Day, KONOVALOV
telephoned TSINEV and warm greetings were exchanged. In addition, TSINF;V
was invited to KONOVALOV's party to celebrate his completion of 25 years' .
1523x9 ?
army service. TSINEV on his part offered to raise. a question (unidentified
by source) inMSCOW on behalf of KONOVATAV who had not had a reply from there.
Although both used first names and patronymics only TSD W used the familiar
style of speebh. .
18. On I Apr 56 Col MM_SMTRNOV, Chief, Cipher Department, Sixth Directorate,
Main Intelligence Dire- o`'earrived from MOSCOW with a visiting commission.
The next day he had a most friendly conversation with KONOVALOV in which he
told him that the following sent their greetings and wished to be remembered
to him:
Lt Gen A.A.XONOVALOV, Chief, Sixth (Opefatione) Directorate,
Engr Col MEEMSHEV (fnu),
KCQ,o$OL'NTKOV (fnu - y/i), and
VDCN'.IN (fnu - uji). ?
VDOVIN had. already been. mentioned by?KONOVALOV when speaking to?Co1 V~,
S6{M in October 1955. SMMOV, Soho was proceeding on leave, a ed
w e r he could take anything'to MOSCOW. KONOVMOV said he wanted to
send the spectacles for Col Can 1d'V_ SHI,LIN . Chief of the Main Intelligence
Directorate, adding- "you'wi11 be able 'to see him there , or you can. give
them to VDOVIN".
19. Maj Can SHERSTNEV (See pars 3) was subjected, to some good-natured
chiding by KONOVALOV for failing to visit him during a trip to HMIN,'
and their subsequent conversation on business natters was informal and
suggested a friendly service relationship.
'isc X26$$,3 - f~
More information, if available, is desired
(a) on paras:
(b) on the following subjects:
NOTE: Customers are requested in their own interest to oamplete
this Cent Sheet as fully as possible, and return it
without delay. Please ensure.that the MPU No. and date
of the Report concerned are clearly shown.
Place check mark here if this report is irrelevant to-the
interest of your unit or organisation and ignore the rest
of this form.
Uy R.R. 01, .rLJUg. l:WJ.N'
date *10 MAR loan
.e .,Curet control Seetioi
AM ,
M WU NO
CWWT
.- 5. ~. dated.....:
Ruth. of 41 7 t'p"
.............................. ............. .........
Please make a cross against the appropriate sentence in,
each of the columns..
VALUE OF ?R[S REPORT POTM]AL VALUE OF
TON ON S &W=
A of considerable value. W of considerable value"
B ? of Value X of value
C of slight value only Y of sligk-t value only
D of no value Z cf no value
E already sufficiently known
F as yet impossible to assess
No further information is re aired
(a)
(b)
on the subject matter of paras:
on the following subject
Designation of Customer or Initials
.......:................ ........
. .
x.523: 3..
a ?
.
g 5-60/--