Israeli Couple from Ashkelon Indicted for Espionage for Iranian Agents

The Israeli State Prosecution filed an indictment on Thursday against Tamirlan Amshukov, 26, and Alina Kushnirenko, 24, a couple from Ashkelon, charging them with spying for Iranian operatives. According to the indictment, an individual using the alias "Aslan" contacted Amshukov via a Telegram group, initially offering to transfer money to a credit card for cash withdrawal and delivery to another person in exchange for a commission. Although Amshukov did not complete this task, he continued communication with "Aslan." Subsequently, "Aslan" proposed that Amshukov perform surveillance, documentation, and monitoring tasks at various locations across Israel, targeting individuals whose identities would be provided, in exchange for cryptocurrency payments.

Amshukov accepted the offer and recruited his partner, Kushnirenko, a Ukrainian citizen residing in Ashkelon, to assist in these missions. The couple systematically gathered intelligence from April to July 2026 on multiple sites, including residences of security personnel and both civilian and military infrastructures. They transmitted this information to the foreign agent in return for cryptocurrency payments. Additionally, Amshukov was instructed by the foreign agent to travel to Eilat to purchase a high-resolution smartphone for thousands of shekels to conduct quality photographic surveillance tasks.

Among the sensitive locations photographed at the agent's request were the Eilat port, a museum, and the Har Herzl cemetery. Amshukov was aware that he was working for an Iranian entity. The indictment follows other espionage cases involving Iranian intelligence, including a 14-year-old accused of spying and an ambulance driver charged with similar offenses.