The spy who loved to dance

舞者间谍

The Documentary Podcast

2026-02-13

26 分钟
PDF

单集简介 ...

In April 2022, two months after Russia invaded Ukraine, a man in his thirties called Victor Muller Ferreira flew into Amsterdam airport using a Brazilian passport. He was identified by the Dutch authorities as Russian national Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov and immediately sent back to Brazil, where investigations by both the FBI and the Brazilian police identified him as a Russian intelligence officer. He had been living in Brazil, undercover, for years, with a well-developed personal 'legend', or cover story, that included a passion for Forró, a popular Brazilian partner-dance. Cherkasov is currently serving a five year prison sentence in Brazil for identity fraud, and Russia demands his extradition. Leandro Prazeres of BBC News Brazil - who happens to be a big fan of Forró himself - and BBC Russian's Olga Ivshina unpack the story of this 'fake Brazilian' and explore the history and motivations of Russia's network of so-called 'illegals', or deep cover spies. This episode of The Documentary comes to you from The Fifth Floor, the show at the heart of global storytelling, with BBC journalists from all around the world. Produced by Laura Thomas, Caroline Ferguson and Hannah Dean. (Photo: Irena Taranyuk.)
更多

单集文稿 ...

  • This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

  • I've spent the last three decades trying to better understand money across the boardroom,

  • the newsroom, and the trading floor.

  • That's longer than most podcast hosts have been alive.

  • But even I've got questions.

  • Join me, Maren's Upset Web, every week for my show, Maren Talks Money, from Bloomberg Podcasts,

  • where I have in-depth conversations with fund managers,

  • strategists, and experts about how markets really work.

  • And join me for a separate episode where I answer listener questions on how to make those markets work for you.

  • Follow Maren Talks Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever.

  • You're listening to the documentary from the BBC World Service.

  • This is the fifth floor at the heart of global storytelling with BBC journalists from all around the world.

  • I'm your host, Irana Taranyuk.

  • In April 2022, two months after Russia invaded Ukraine, A man in his thirties,

  • called Victor Mula Ferreira, flew in to Amsterdam Airport using a Brazilian passport.

  • He was identified by the Dutch authorities as Russian national Sergei Vladimir Vicherkasov and immediately sent back to Brazil,

  • where investigations by both the FBI and the Brazilian police identified him as a Russian intelligence officer.

  • He is currently serving a five-year prison sentence in Brazil for identity fraud.

  • With me on the line from Brasilia is Leandro Praceres,

  • who has been covering the story for BBC News Brazil and from London Olga Ivshina of BBC Russian.