Israeli prosecutors have charged an Israeli man and a Ukrainian woman with espionage-related offenses, alleging that the pair conducted surveillance and gathered intelligence on civilian and military sites in Israel on behalf of Iranian agents. The indictment was filed on Thursday in Tel Aviv District Court.
The defendants, 26-year-old Tamirlan Amshukov and 24-year-old Alina Kushnirenko, are accused of operating under the direction of an Iranian handler between April and July of this year. Amshukov, an Israeli citizen, faces charges including contact with a foreign agent and multiple counts of providing information that could benefit an enemy. Kushnirenko, a Ukrainian national residing in Israel under temporary group protection status, is charged with similar offenses.
The investigation, conducted jointly by Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet, and the Israel Police, led to the couple’s arrest on July 12. According to the indictment, initial contact was made through Telegram messaging profiles using aliases such as “Rafael,” “Aslan,” and “David." These profiles allegedly directed Amshukov and Kushnirenko to conduct surveillance tasks in exchange for cryptocurrency payments totaling around $4,450, with an additional $2,300 pending for further assignments.
The accused are alleged to have photographed and documented a range of locations across several Israeli cities, including Ashdod, Haifa, Be’er Sheva, Kadima-Zoran, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Eilat. Notable sites targeted include the Port of Eilat, the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, a defense facility near Dimona, and the Ramat Aviv Mall in Tel Aviv, where the couple reportedly identified a staircase area without surveillance cameras. Surveillance also focused on residential buildings linked to security personnel and defense industry employees, as well as access routes and surrounding areas.
Prosecutors stated that Amshukov and Kushnirenko received instructions to locate specific individuals based on photographs provided by their handlers, though the defendants reportedly did not know the identities of those individuals. One assignment in Be’er Sheva was reportedly foiled following their arrest.
Israeli authorities noted that these charges come amid ongoing efforts to combat Iranian espionage activities within Israel. Over the past two years, more than 70 indictments have been filed against individuals accused of maintaining contact with Iran or passing information to Iranian operatives. Recent cases have included individuals of Russian and Uzbek nationality arrested or charged under similar suspicions.
The prosecution has requested that Amshukov and Kushnirenko remain in custody pending further legal proceedings. The case underscores continuing security concerns regarding covert intelligence-gathering efforts targeting sensitive sites in Israel.