An Australian soldier and her husband have been arrested and charged with espionage for Russia. Kira Korolev, a 40-year-old army private, and her 62-year-old husband Igor Korolev appeared in court in Brisbane on Friday, each facing one count of preparing for an espionage offence, which carries a maximum 15-year prison term. This marks the first use of Australia’s stricter foreign interference laws introduced in 2018 for espionage charges.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated he had received extensive briefings from security agencies but refrained from commenting directly on the case due to its court status. Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Reece Kershaw disclosed that the couple had lived in Australia for over a decade, becoming citizens several years ago. Igor worked as a self-employed labourer, while Kira served as an information systems technician in the army, holding a security clearance.

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According to Mr Kershaw, Kira allegedly made a clandestine trip to Russia during leave from the ADF, instructing Igor to access her work account and send sensitive materials for transmission to Russian authorities. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain if the materials were delivered, with potential for upgraded charges.

Both Mr Kershaw and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Mike Burgess, who jointly addressed the media, declined specifics on the documents or how the alleged activities were detected. However, Mr Burgess underscored the persistent threat of espionage, emphasizing vigilance and proactive measures to counter foreign interference.

Mr Kershaw assured Australia’s allies of continued efforts to detect and disrupt espionage activities, while the ADF confirmed awareness of the arrest and underscored its commitment to security protocols.