On July 12, 2024, Australian authorities arrested a Brisbane couple, Kira Korolev and her husband, charged with espionage for Russia. The investigation was initiated by Australia’s domestic spy agency ASIO, which closely monitored the couple—Kira Korolev was noted to be a Russian-born Australian citizen and an army private in the Australian Defence Force. The couple allegedly spied for their country of origin and was under surveillance for an extended period before being taken into custody. The case highlights concerns about espionage inside Australian defense recruitment and the use of social media influence by the accused. The AFP and ASIO have publicly addressed the case, underlining the seriousness of the national security threat. This marks a notable espionage incident involving a local resident allegedly recruited to spy for Russia.
Category: Intelligence & Espionage
Subcategory: Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
Incident Type: Recruitment of locals
Country: Australia
Source report: www.abc.net.au/news/2024…
