The children of a Russian spy couple who were part of the largest prisoner swap between the West and Russia since the Cold War had a shocking revelation on their journey back home to Moscow. Artem Viktorovich Dultsev and Anna Valerevna Dultseva, who were posing as an Argentine couple living in Slovenia, only found out their true nationality on the flight to Russia.
The couple, along with their children who do not speak Russian, were warmly welcomed upon their arrival in Moscow. President Vladimir Putin greeted them with flowers and a warm embrace, surprising the children who had no idea who he was. The president even greeted them in Spanish, adding to the confusion for the young spies.
The family had been living undercover in Slovenia since 2017, using false identities and passports. It wasn’t until 2022 that they were arrested on espionage charges and sentenced to 19 months in prison each. However, they were released on time served and ordered to leave the country as part of the prisoner swap.
The children, 11-year-old Sofia and 8-year-old Gabriel, who were born in Argentina, only learned of their Russian heritage as they flew back to Moscow. The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained that this is the sacrifice undercover agents make for their work and dedication to their service.
The story of the Russian spy family highlights the secretive and complex world of espionage, where even children may not know the true identities of their parents until they are forced to reveal them.
