Colonel Sergei Mirov

Colonel Sergei Mirov
Status:	Alive
Nationality:	Russian
Profession:	Member of the GRU
Others:	Yevgeny Gromov (subordinate)
Played by:	Merab Ninidze
Season(s):	7, 8
First episode:	"Useful Idiot"
Last episode:	"Prisoners of War"

Sergei Mirov is the head of the GRU. He is Yevgeny Gromov's superior at the Russian secret service GRU. Despite giving him mostly free rein, Gromov must follow his orders, especially when one of his missions spirals out of control.

Biography

He is present at a diplomatic meeting between U.S. and Russian officials, which unbeknownst to him is a ruse to lure Yevgeny away from Simone Martin so that she can be extracted.

Later, Mirov keeps custody of the flight recorder on President Warner's helicopter, sending Yevgeny to bargain for the identity of Saul's deeply-embedded asset in the Kremlin in exchange for the recorder. Mirov learns that his interpreter, Anna Pomerantseva, is in fact Saul's asset, and orders her eliminated. He then upholds Russia's end of the deal by announcing at a United Nations summit that the helicopter crash that killed Presidents Warner and Daoud was due to mechanical failure.

About him

After all, Saul’s mission goes awry very fast. The morning passes smoothly enough: He and Carrie, along with the Moscow CIA station chief, sit across from representatives of Russian intelligence, from both the SVR — Russia’s military intelligence, led here by General Yakushin — and the GRU, led by Mirov, Gromov’s handler. Saul pauses Mirov during his welcome speech to ask for Gromov to appear in the conference as well, and though Mirov tries to play dumb, he eventually relents. See, Mirov’s between a rock and a hard place: The Russians want to know why the Americans are really in town, and he won’t be able to get Saul to speak without Gromov.

But when Gromov arrives at the meeting, Carrie barely gets a chance to chide Gromov for messing around with her country and using her to do it before a message gets related to Mirov, who abruptly ends the meeting.

Simone says Gromov would never give her up, but Carrie just scoffs at Simone’s naiveté. The two may be in love, but there’s no way Simone is safer with the Russians: Carrie points out that right now, while Simone’s hiding, Mirov and Gromov are probably having the conversation about why they’re not just taking her out of the equation. Gromov is probably defending her loyalty, but in the “big picture,” Carrie says, Simone is expendable to her country. She’s too much of a liability.

The real Simone, in a blond wig to play Carrie, has been taken to the embassy, where Saul and his team are waiting to extract her from the country. On their way out, Mirov stops their car, suspicious of how quickly Saul wants to get out of the embassy when before he’d been stalling, but luckily Yevgeny calls just in time to report that they’ve found the grey Mercedes in question and are about to detain Simone.

Duped, Mirov leaves Saul be, and the Americans make their way to their jet.

Trivia

• What is GRU's history? - By Guy Faulconbridge
  • Russian spies trace their history back to at least the reign of Ivan the Terrible in the 16th Century, who established a feared espionage service.
  • The GRU was founded as the Registration Directorate in 1918 after the Bolshevik Revolution. Soviet state founder Vladimir Lenin insisted on its independence from other secret services, which saw it as a rival.
  • While the once mighty KGB was broken up during the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, the GRU remained intact.
  • GRU officers played a significant role in some of the key junctures of the Cold War and post-Soviet history - from the Cuban Missile crisis to Afghan war and the annexation of Crimea.
  • The public was given a rare chance to see parts of the GRU’s Moscow headquarters when Putin visited it in 2006. He was shown taking part in shooting practice.

• What is Russia's GRU military intelligence agency? - By Guy Faulconbridge
  • Russia's military intelligence service is commonly known by the Russian acronym GRU, which stands for the Main Intelligence Directorate. Its name was formally changed in 2010 to the Main Directorate (or just GU) of the general staff, but its old acronym - GRU - is still more widely used.
  • The GRU answers directly to the chief of the general staff and the Russian defence minister each of whom are thought to have access to Russia's portable nuclear briefcase.
  • Russia's two other main intelligence and security services were both created from the Soviet-era KGB: the Foreign Intelligence Service, or SVR, and the Federal Security Service, or FSB.

• What are Western claims about GRU? - By Guy Faulconbridge
  • The United States sanctioned GRU officers including its chief, Igor Korobov, for cyber attempts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. Russia denied meddling in the election.
  • Britain said two GRU officers attempted to murder former GRU double agent Sergei Skripal with Novichok. Russia denied any involvement.
  • Britain said GRU was behind the BadRabbit attack of 2017, the hack of the Democratic National Committee in 2016, and attacks on the computer systems of both the Foreign Office and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in 2018. Russia said the accusations were fiction.
  • The Netherlands said it caught four GRU cyber spies trying to hack into the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. It said the same group, known as unit 26165, had targeted the investigation into the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17. [nL8N1WK2R0]
  • The United States charged seven GRU officers with plots to hack the World Anti-Doping Agency which had exposed a Russian doping programme.
  • GRU played a significant role in the 2014 annexation of Crimea, the conflict in Ukraine and the 2008 conflict with Georgia. Note: The GRU does not have its own public web site and does not comment publicly on its actions. Its structure, staff numbers and financing are state secrets.

• What are the GRU's capabilities? - By Guy Faulconbridge
  • The GRU has a long-running programme to run 'illegal' spies - those who work without diplomatic cover and who live under an assumed identity for years until orders from Moscow. "It has a long-running programme of 'illegals' reserved for the most sensitive or deniable tasks across the spectrum of GRU operations".
  • The GRU is seen as a major Russian cyber player. "It plays an increasingly important role in Russia’s development of Information Warfare (both defensive and offensive)".
  • "It is an aggressive and well-funded organisation which has the direct support of – and access to – [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, allowing freedom in its activities and leniency with regards to diplomatic and legislative scrutiny," according to the assessment.
  • The GRU also has a considerable special forces unit [GRU Spetsnaz]. They are the elite of the Russian military.

Character profile

Sergei Mirov, a character from the television drama Homeland, plays the role of an officer involved in negotiations with the United States. Mirov's character is complex and intriguing, as he showcases a diplomatic yet calculating personality. Through his actions and interactions, viewers gain insight into the inner workings of international diplomacy and the meticulous nature required to navigate such high-stakes negotiations.

Mirov's diplomatic nature is evident in his polished demeanor and careful choice of words. Every statement he makes is meticulously crafted, with the sole aim of preserving his country's interests while simultaneously maintaining a cordial relationship with the United States. His diplomatic temperament allows Mirov to remain calm and composed even in the most intense situations, making him a formidable negotiator.However, beneath his diplomatic facade, Mirov's calculating personality becomes apparent. He possesses a strategic mindset that constantly assesses the costs and benefits of every move he makes. Mirov is not swayed by emotions or personal attachments; instead, he focuses solely on achieving the objectives set out by his government. This unyielding determination sets him apart and gives him an edge in negotiations.

Mirov's negotiation style can be characterized as calculated and calculated. He is known for his ability to read the other party's intentions and gauge their position accurately. This skill allows Mirov to anticipate and counter the United States' moves, steering the negotiations towards a favorable outcome for his country. He is always two steps ahead, leaving his counterparts struggling to keep up.

One could argue that Mirov's diplomatic and calculating personality aligns with certain high-minded concepts, such as those found in game theory or Machiavellianism. Game theory, a branch of mathematics and economics, examines strategic decision-making in competitive situations. Mirov's constant evaluation of costs and benefits mirrors the rational thinking seen in game theory, where individuals maximize their own gains while minimizing losses.

Similarly, Mirov's calculated approach to negotiations can be seen through the lens of Machiavellianism. Machiavellianism focuses on shrewdness, manipulation, and the strategic use of power to achieve one's goals. Mirov's ability to read people's intentions, his careful choice of words, and his knack for keeping his true intentions hidden align with the characteristics associated with this concept.

However, it is important to note that despite the high-minded concepts associated with Mirov's character, his portrayal remains grounded and relatable for viewers. The writers have ensured that his actions and motivations are easy to understand, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in the intricacies of international diplomacy without feeling overwhelmed.

In conclusion, Sergei Mirov's character in Homeland provides viewers with a fascinating look into the world of high-stakes negotiations. His diplomatic yet calculating personality showcases the intricate nature of international diplomacy, where every move is calculated, and every word is chosen with care. Mirov's portrayal aligns with analytical and theoretical concepts like game theory and Machiavellianism, but the down-to-earth style of the show ensures that audiences can easily connect with and understand his character.

Behind the Scenes

Appearances

Season 7
"Enemy of the State"	"Rebel Rebel"	"Standoff"	"Like Bad at Things"	"Active Measures"
"Species Jump"	"Andante"	"Lies, Amplifiers, F**king Twitter"	Useful Idiot	"Clarity"
All In	Paean to the People

Season 8
"Deception Indicated"	"Catch and Release"	"False Friends"	"Chalk One Up"	"Chalk Two Down"
"Two Minutes"	"F**ker Shot Me"	"Threnody(s)"	"In Full Flight"	"Designated Driver"
The English Teacher	Prisoners of War