Igor and Kyra Korolev were charged with espionage offences after being arrested on July 11 at their home in the Brisbane suburb of Everton Park following a joint operation between the Australian Security Intelligence Service and the Australian Federal Police.
Police allege the pair were working to obtain sensitive information from the Australian Defence Force.
Kira Korolev, 40, joined the Australian Army seven years ago and became an information systems technician. Nine News understands she was a soldier in the 7th Combat Signals Regiment, which has expertise in encrypted communications.
Authorities accuse her of traveling to Russia without declaring it with and without Igor since 2023 while on extended leave from the Defense Ministry.
AFP alleges that during one of her unaccompanied visits to Russia, Kira asked Igor for access to her official work account and specific information relating to Australian national security interests, which he then sent to her private email account.
Until his arrest, Igor Korolev was working at a caravan manufacturing plant northwest of Brisbane.
Nine News spoke to three of Igor’s former colleagues, each of whom spoke fondly of him, saying he was hardworking and physically fit despite his 62 years.
Although none of them were willing to speak on camera, they said Igor told them he was in the Russian special forces, even showing them photos of his old platoon.
The 22-year age gap between the couple and Igor’s military background were “loud and clear intelligence warning signs,” said former defence intelligence official Professor Paul Dibb, who spent three decades working on Russian counter-espionage.
He said this was evidence of a classic Russian “backroom” operation.
“That means, the sleepers who blend into the background, as they seem to have done, are highly respected but are doing their best to get to our secrets,” Depp said.
“Staying back” is for the long term, he said.
“They’ve been trained to be very patient. It’s not about immediately going over and getting checked by the Australian intelligence agency. It’s about being careful, being low-key, being as friendly and approachable as possible, being a nice Australian couple so that there are no red flags in that regard,” he said.
“Then you put it in casually as a private soldier—I know that’s not much—but it’s the beginning, the wedge begins, as I understand it, in organizing army signals.
“This isn’t Pine Gap. This isn’t a top-secret password, but it’s like getting your foot in the door.”
Depp said Igor’s claim to be a member of the Russian special forces, or Spetsnaz, was troubling.
“Spetsnaz, that means special forces, but it is not like our powerful special forces. It is a murderous and irresponsible group that has committed murders and assassinations in Afghanistan and in Crimea.”
Igor and Kyra have been charged with one count of preparing to commit espionage, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
