Why did Soviet leaders depend on the KGB for information and political control?

Soviet leaders relied on the KGB because it functioned as the "sword and shield" of the Communist Party, forming a vital triad of power alongside the party and the army. This dependence was rooted in the agency's multifaceted role in maintaining the regime's stability and authority.12

The KGB provided essential services that ensured the survival of the political leadership:

• Information and Intelligence: The agency gathered critical data on both foreign adversaries and domestic affairs, which leaders used to maintain parity in foreign policy and military technology.12
• Political Control: It acted as a security watchdog, conducting surveillance on the population and key elites to suppress dissent. By monitoring churches, intellectuals, and human rights advocates, the KGB enforced ideological conformity.12
• Internal Security: The agency was designed to be controlled by senior party officials, allowing them to protect their leadership and purge perceived threats to the regime.2

Ultimately, the KGB’s reach—supported by millions of informers—made it an indispensable, albeit baleful, instrument for the Soviet state to exert total control over its citizens.12