Lona Cohen | |
|---|---|
 Cohen on a 1998 Russian stamp, with her first name as "Leontina" | |
| Born | Leontine Theresa Petka January 11, 1913[1] Adams, Massachusetts, U.S.[1] |
| Died | December 23, 1992 (aged 79)[1] |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Morris Cohen |
| Awards | Hero of the Russian Federation (1996) Order of the Red Banner, Order of Friendship of Nations[1] |
| Espionage activity | |
| Allegiance | Soviet Union |
| Service years | 1939–1961 (arrest) |
| Codename | Helen Kroger |
Lona Cohen (Russian: Леонтина Владиславовна Коэн, Leontina Vladislavovna Koen; January 11, 1913 – December 23, 1992), born Leontine Theresa Petka, also known as Helen Kroger, was an American who spied for the Soviet Union. She is known for her role in smuggling atomic bomb diagrams out of Los Alamos. She was a communist activist before marrying Morris Cohen. The couple became spies because of their communist beliefs.
They were both arrested in Britain in 1961, and convicted of espionage for the Soviet Union the following year. After serving part of a prison sentence, Lona Cohen and her husband were exchanged by the British in 1969. They lived the remainder of their lives in Moscow, teaching spy skills.