KGB General Yuri Drozdov died at the age of 91 on 21st June 2017. Speaking fluent English and German, as well as his mother tongue Russian. as a young KGB man, he lived in East Berlin with his wife and two children. When James Donovan had meetings with lawyer Wolfgang Vogel (who spoke no English) Drozdov would translate for the two men. He also wrote the letters in English to Rudolf Abels claiming to be Abel's wife. Yuri Drozdov used the pseudonym Juergen Drews, in the film Bridge of Spies, "Cousin Drewes". James Donovan appeared to like him.
The 1968 Soviet film "The shield and the sword " depicting a prisoner exchange is said to have inspired Putin to join the KGB. (Putin would serve in the KGB in Dresden, DDR)
Yuri Drozdov was awarded the Gold "Brotherhood in Arms medal" from the DDR.
Lance Shippey