Information
An Australian soldier, Kira Korolev, and her husband Igor Korolev, both originally from Russia but now Australian citizens, have been arrested and charged with espionage. This case marks the first use of Australia’s stringent foreign interference laws, introduced in 2018, to prosecute for espionage. The couple allegedly attempted to pass sensitive Australian Defence Force (ADF) material to Moscow, but Australian authorities have stated that there has been “no significant compromise” of military secrets. The Korolevs appeared in a Brisbane court facing charges that could lead to up to 15 years in prison if they are convicted.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw and the head of Australia’s spy agency, Mike Burgess, provided details about the investigation but remained reserved about the specifics of the materials involved or how the couple was initially suspected. Kira Korolev, who worked as an information systems technician in the army, reportedly used her security clearance to obtain sensitive information, which she then instructed her husband to send to Russian contacts. This arrest underlines ongoing global espionage threats and Australia’s proactive stance on national security, with assurances from Australian officials that the country remains vigilant against such activities.
Source: BBC, AP, Al Jazeera
So what
From the statement released by authorities, it appears possible that she was being observed during the build-up to the attempt. Though this event raises many questions, such as how she got a high-level security clearance, it is likely a good way for FVEY intelligence to see how Russian intelligence is currently running its sources. All in all, while not a great news headline, it is likely that good counterintelligence practices limited any damage and enabled a good level of collection against Russian intelligence.
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