IVANYUK S.A. Interrogation Speeches as Information on the Organization of the Intelligence of the Russian Army During the Great Northern War (Based on the Materials of the Russian State Archive of the Navy)
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/jvolsu4.2026.1.21
Sergey A. Ivanyuk,
Candidate of Sciences (History), Director, Central Museum of Communications named after A.S. Popov, Pochtamtsky Lane, 4, 190000 Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation,
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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3097-9307
Abstract. Introduction. The Great Northern War (1700–1721) had a significant impact on the development of military affairs in the Russian Empire, where intelligence played an important role in the course of military operations. One of the sources revealing the organization of military intelligence in the army of Peter I is the socalled interrogation speeches. The funds of the Russian State Archive of the Navy contain a large array of such sources. The study and analysis of these archival materials allows us to make a significant contribution to understanding the development of the domestic intelligence service. Methods and materials. The methodological apparatus of this work is based on a comprehensive approach, including source and formula analysis, as well as systematization of archival materials. Analysis. The study of interrogation speeches for the period 1710–1720 makes it possible to form a certain system in the compilation of such documents and the peculiarities of interrogating various prisoners of war. During the analysis of the surviving sources, it was possible to identify the main blocks of questions of interest to the Russian command, depending on the combat situation. Results. The study of interrogation speeches allowed for a comprehensive examination of the Russian army’s intelligence mechanisms during the Great Northern War and an assessment of their practical significance. It was determined that interrogation speeches had a clear structure, including an introductory and a main section. The content varied depending on the source of information but always focused on current intelligence objectives. The status of the interviewee directly influenced the nature and value of the information. The data obtained was not a formality; rather, it directly influenced the strategic and tactical decisions of the command, ultimately contributing to the success of military campaigns.
Key words: Peter I, Great Northern War, intelligence, small war, Russian State Archive of the Navy.
Citation. Ivanyuk S.A. Interrogation Speeches as Information on the Organization of the Intelligence of the Russian Army During the Great Northern War (Based on the Materials of the Russian State Archive of the Navy). Vestnik Volgogradskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya 4. Istoriya. Regionovedenie. Mezhdunarodnye otnosheniya [Science Journal of Volgograd State University. History. Area Studies. International Relations], 2026, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 244-253. (in Russian). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/jvolsu4.2026.1.21
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