Використання радянськими силовими органами агентурно-інформаційної мережі у боротьбі із підпіллям у Карпатському краї ОУН (1945-1954)

Abstract

Along with operations conducted by the military and extraordinary committee members aimed to do away with the OUN, the state punitive organs began the work of intelligence agents directed to create of an information agents apparatus, as well as to form special fighting groups. Special agents fulfilled also other functions, disrupting the unity of the nationalist organizations from inside was among them. It is noteworthy, that it was that method of fighting agents which was used most frequently.

In order to increase ability to work the punitive organs conducted special training of intelligence agents, whose principal task was to supply qualified cadres. The Soviet repressive-punitive system used to enact various categories of agents depending on their functional duties (agent-fighter, external agent, internal agent, twin agent, agent-signaller, route agent, agent-propagandist, agent-raider, informer, agent «empowered to act for somebody», etc.

Capable for work and valuable agents were acquired by means of secret capture of the OUN members during operations and local recruiting. Besides, agents were enlisted from-among members of former clandestine groups and orderlies of the OUN with legal residence, who worked at factories and other industrial establishments. The recruiting process took a long time and consisted of several stages. The strength of Soviet secret service was considerable. Against every OUN’s unit (whether sectional, district, supra-district, regional, or areal) and every UPA department the intelligence cooked up charges, and later, after the necessary persons were liquidated, the cases were closed lest new or renewed units were found out for what reason new cases were opened (predominantly, under corresponding other titles). However, the expectations of the Soviet power for quick and complete destruction of the liberation movement failed. Therefore, agent work became distributed in all possible forms. As a rule, in the complex of anti-nationalistic operations to agent training the central place was dedicated. It is remarkable, that the aforementioned fighting means proved very – or even very much – effective.