from 1985 to 1990, putin worked for the kgb, the soviet union's secret spy service. putin worked in dresden, which was part of the former east germany. after east germany collapsed in 1989, putin was told to come back to the soviet union. he chose to go to leningrad, which is where he went to university. in june 1990, he started working in the international affairs section of leningrad state university. in june 1991, he was appointed head of the international committee of the saint petersburg mayor's office. his job was to promote international relations and foreign investments.