Oleg Penkovsky as the first Soviet spy recruited by the CIA

The article analyses the archival documents of the CIA in the Oleg Penkovsky's case. The authors examined a set of materials that had not previously been introduced into scientific circulation. Documents relating to Penkovsky allowed a more accurate determination of the motives of his actions and the damage that he caused by his espionage activities. The paper discusses some of the moments of the initial period of this activity, namely, Penkovsky's first contacts with the representatives of Western intelligence services.