The information which Vetrov provided enabled the western countries to expel nearly 150 Soviet technology spies around the world , including the 47 mentioned above , most of whom were from Line X . This caused the collapse of the Soviet 's information program at a time when it was particularly crucial . The U.S. created a massive operation to provide the Soviets with faulty data and sabotaged parts for certain technologies , as a consequence of the Farewell Dossier . Vetrov was also responsible for exposing the spy Dieter Gerhardt , a senior officer in the South African Navy who had been spying for the Soviets for 20 years . Vetrov also provided information hinting at a Polish coup d'état ( eventually found to be that by Wojciech Jaruzelski , and alleging a link between the Soviet Union and the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II
assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II assassination attempt
Vladimir Vetrov