Ex-CIA spy shares her time undercover in Moscow 

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Just the idea of a woman, walking around the woods by herself in Moscow in the middle night, is scary enough, then being CIA doing dead drops in the middle of the Cold War, puts it at another level.

Ms. Peterson spoke in person to my CIA Career Trainee class in the Spring of 1984. We were all green as grass newly hired operations officers beginning 1.5 years of training under a three year probation period. Her story of working under "Moscow Rules" in the Soviet Union had us enthralled. She was very frank about the situation, the asset had been compromised and they were waiting to ambush her when she was servicing a "dead drop". Real world stuff at a time when there were few female CIA operations officers.

You just never know what your grandmother got up to in her youth!

While she was working in Moscow, various CIA officials were collaborating with the KGB and revealing the names of Russian agents who were helping the U.S. We all know what happened to them. So, the greatest threat to this great lady was not the Russians - but her own employer back at Langley.

Thank you for your incredible service and career.

Martha, I remember you in Moscow. We played darts at the embassy with you and Steve. You are amazing

Thank you for your service to our country!

A friend of mine was used by a British agent. He befriended her, started an affair and persuaded her to go from South Africa to London to meet him...he took a flight later. In her luggage she took some of his belongings, (and some documents ). When they met in London he simply took his things, thanked her, explained he was an agent, then departed. She was devastated. Total sociopathic type, I don't care what the greater cause was.

Great learning experience Martha, my blessings to your late husband John. Congrads on moving forward in life and making a difference. You Rock...!

I absolutely love how she points out "they weren't interested in young women. We didn't threaten them. We were just young pretty things to have around," not realizing that the Americans would take talent wherever it presented itself regardless of gender. When sexism bites you in the booty.

Husband was killed 15 months on the job and she thought it is good idea to start with the same job . Lol

I'm very impressed by this woman and her story. Thank you for sharing this.

The 70's were very interesting times, and she was a very capable and brave lady. God Bless you and thank you. Mikhail

What a brave and nice lady. Never imagine she did all that skullduggery. She is like the lady sitting next to you at the church Friday night Bingo. Thank you for your service.

Read Billion Dollar Spy, great read. All about TRIGON and includes Martha as well.

She says that back then, Russia was our only adversary, of course now our enemies are many. I wonder why?

Great job Mardi! I remember you well from the times we worked w/ chief of disguise Mendez. I didn’t realize you were in Pakse, I flew in there a couple of times in 1974 to train agents in SW., probably after you left. Regards you still look great. God Bless.

Gripping tale. Amazing person.

Truman was correct when he wanted to dissolve OSS.

Bravo ma’am, much love and respect from this English man and awful to hear about your husband. 🇬🇧🤝🇺🇸🗽⚽️

Grammy was a spy!

Wow. Fascinating story of life & death espionage.

Most people lead a very mundane life. None of them were named Martha Peterson.

Great job Luke

I read a book about this guy, 'Trigon'. I believe it was in the book 'Moscow Rules' by Tony and Jonna Mendez.

Tough situation. What little I see on the internet regarding TRIGON suggests he spied for dissident reasons, as opposed to money or blackmail. While he's "our guy" I always find it fascinating that we root for the TRIGONs but despise the Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssens. Both betrayed their countries, or at the very least their governments. Perhaps this is more forgivable or laudable when the government being betrayed is a dictatorship versus a democracy, but it is still a betrayal. I imagine as a Soviet citizen or perhaps a Soviet security agent I may secretly despise my government, but I would hardly flinch at "taking out" someone who was passing state secrets to my people's biggest enemy; in a nuclear war, my children would be just as dead as the most depraved member of the Politburo, and the average Soviet citizen had every reason to believe America was the most dangerous threat, and perhaps they were correct. Spy games are dangerous and you can't have too many tears if you get caught. Sounds like TRIGON knew what he was going in for when he decided to turn and took measures to make sure he was ready to deal with whatever came his way.

very articulate lady.

Thank you

She's very impressive. Bravo lady.

Damn, this lady is a cold character. I would believe any story about her accomplishments. She has that nice-looking grandmotherly face now, but younger... the CIA can always use cool, good-looking female agents. Here, she has honesty, spoken with care. Respect to you, M'am !

Fascinating 🙏🏻

Who really thinks the Cold War ended ?

She was not the first female American spy in Moscow In 1962 an operative worked with my father ( British ) on the Oleg Vladimirovich Penkovsky operation . She as the wife of the American Chargé d'affaires: .

Oh, yes. She faught like a bull during her apprehension at the brigde in Moscow

She is a very brave lady‼️🇺🇸

Fascinating!

Good video to watch since I just ordered a book on the lives of the first four women in the CIA when it was a legit outfit.

Very informative . Thanks

I wonder if this clever and kind lady ever reflect on a thought that she was an accomplice to suicide of her agent. I don’t blame her but when she says “it was his choice” I wonder how much it helps

Very cool story

What a brave amazing woman! Bravo. A credit to your country.

She is a very nice, sincere lady, but I defer to Oliver Stone regarding the dark side of the CIA.

Wow… this incredibly brave lady/ warrior.. is the real deal….🌹🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Watch how she was captured in TASS is authorized to announce movie😅. Brilliant movie how the KGB hit the CIA in Moscow😂.

They know where to go ; they know what to take and where to leave them ; so it was well informed .........why survelliance is after people who do not know give .......packets or leave the packets .......

Interesting‼️

Trigon, aka Trianon.

What she stops short of saying about 9/11 is that the Israelis knew.

Interesting lady.

I seriously thought CIA meant Criminal Intelligence association.

Wow. English for 2 seconds, American for 2000.

Natasha was kGB, so we know they used women

A true CIA person would never share this type of stuff in a YT video.

What do you do when your husband is killed on a dumb CIA mission? Join the CIA!

She should act as a consultant to the Ukrainian government 😅😅😅

Not a good idea to make it public 😂

She rambles on so aimlessly and is so boring, I can't see her being a good spy , unless she bored her followers to death.

Jesus Christ! Her story telling ability is a solid 0 out of 10. My God.

Shame

lol. clowns will be clowns

Wonder what she looked like young

She is super sharp for being 80. Wow!

Tradecraft in Moscow has to be perfect. Even if perfect, you are vulnerable. Unforgiving place.

A rare opportunity to experience a first-hand account of real-life operations behind the iron curtain. Thank you soooo much...

She's a nice change from Agent Hollywood Bustamonti. She seems real.

Not surprised at all. 1. A few years ago, I was at a dance program in Bakersfield. War by war, starting with WW2, veterans and/or widows/widowers of service people were asked to stand. As the wars went by, more and more women were standing. When it came to the Gulf Wars, the women rising outnumbered the men. I was impressed. 2. Never underestimate the skills and potential of other people.

Wow!! As this amazing woman was chatting, I could visualize her steps picking up and delivering. What a treasure she was and is. Thank you for the story!

I worked with and for the NSA while in the Army 1966-1968-. Upon release I was interview by the CIA as a cryptologist. The pay was outrageously low, I couldn't get married without permission and had to agree to at least a two year overseas commitment. I passed and never regretted it.

When your grandma is a straight badass!!

I have seen other documentaries on Martha Peterson and Trigon which included the KGB film of her surprise abduction and interrogation. She was fearless. One of her KGB captors said that her hard kick to his groin was very damaging.

I like that she calls the Russians “the then adversaries » and not « enemies ».

Words you never want to hear, "...and then they took me to Lubyanka Prison..."

Marti is featured in Lisa Mandy’s new book The Sisterhood , women in the CIA good book

What a great storyteller!

Now that was fascinating.

Wow cameras in fountain pens

We were in Moscow and met Martha Peterson at the American Embassy. We used to play darts with her and another guy named Steve. My husband was with Pan American Airways. I have her book "The Widow Spy".

Are enemies are within now

How did her husband die? The Russian guy should not have done that. But I also know they lived in a timp when Russians were not allowed to know about God.

Thank you so much for these archives. Phenomenal coverage. She also went onto the Team House podcast which is a tremendous podcast with guests varying from SOF and intelligence agents, and they also have a former FSB Operative.

Great interview!

She's sharp as a tack...with a little bit of Edith Bunker likeability you can see why they picked her!

Thank you so very much for your service to our country. You took great risks for others‼️🇺🇸

She's fascinating. What a life.

Thank you so much for your excellent service. ❤

Superlative. Pure storytelling

@ 26:20 "where were you, were you around when the Cold War ended?" The Cold War never ended inside Russia. They absolutely needed modern technology to advance further, faster. Once this was achieved border expansion progressed.

Wow. National treasure she is. And a pretty face😊

The Trigon story is famous, it is so nice to hear the other side of the story. Trigon didn't just kill himself to avoid torture, he killed himself to protect all his secrets. The use of females is the classic use the enemies cultural assumptions against them.

Very good interview.

The problem she had was they kgb in Moscow doesn't need to follow , they have checkpoints and just my personal experience she traveled way too much for somebody who had a job to work and then travel for hours and hours . It's not common 😅 .

Polygraphed? Do they still take that seriously?

Very interesting. Thank you

For TV fun see Game Set Match. It's a cold war spy drama series to be found on RU-vid, quite realistic. Set in England. Circa '75.

Real patriots all

Seen on youtube Russia version of the events.What she said is matching the Russians story. She did kick few guys during the arest

The 27 Club

Very smart interesting woman in a fascinating life

Great vid!! Fascinating story!