Another fanon/canon question

[threecee]

While we are on the subject of Illya tropes: where did the one that he was either KGB or GRU or both come from?

Comments

[gevr]

I think it starts in the episode "The Neptune Affair" in season 1 where Illya wears a Russian naval uniform.

[mrua7]

I agree. That would lean him towards being in GRU which is military intelligence.

[threecee]

You're right. That is probably where the idea came from. I think it was the first and last time we see him in the Soviet Union.

[spikesgirl58]

I don't think it's ever mentioned per se in the series, but most of the fanon stuff settles on KGB (for many it's the worst of the two). However, we do know he was in the military, so perhaps gevr is onto something

[threecee]

Being in the Navy could mean GRU. The spetznav department sounds like the training would have developed Illya's talents:
"The Spetsnaz GRU operatives would have to complete training that included the following: weapons handling, rappelling, explosives training, marksmanship, counter-terrorism, airborne training, hand-to-hand combat, climbing (alpine rope techniques), diving, underwater combat, long-range marksmanship, emergency medical training, and demolition."

Wikipedia "Special Forces of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Forces_of_the_Main_Directorate_of_the_General_Staff_of_the_Russian_Armed_Forces accessed May 17, 2019

On the other hand, the KGB sometimes infiltrated the military and the GRU itself to look for traitors or senior officers of questionable political orthodoxy.