Russian Rooftop Climbers Propose on Empire State Building, Stirring New York

Ivan "Vanya" Birkus and Angela Nikolaou, Russian rooftop climbers and stars of the Netflix documentary "Skywalkers: A Love Story," caused a stir in New York City by illegally climbing to the top of the Empire State Building and proposing marriage. On July 1, 2026, the couple ascended approximately 450 meters to the 102nd floor rooftop, where they spent about half an hour waving a flag bearing the message, "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." At the climax of the event, Birkus knelt and proposed to Nikolaou, an act that prompted numerous 911 calls and live television coverage.

After descending, the pair were detained by police, who are investigating how they managed to reach the summit of the iconic skyscraper. The building's management assured the public that no one was endangered and suggested more conventional ways to propose on the Empire State Building's observation deck. This is not the first time Birkus and Nikolaou have run afoul of authorities; the documentary chronicles their previous climb of Malaysia's Merdeka Tower, the world's second tallest building at 2,227 feet, where they spent about 30 hours inside, hiding from construction workers and even sleeping there before leaving the country without legal consequences.

In a 2024 interview with Variety, the couple revealed they recently relocated to New York seeking new adventures and hinted at future climbs of other buildings, though they declined to disclose their next target. Their daring proposal has captured global attention, blending extreme urban climbing with a romantic gesture on one of the world's most famous rooftops.