Army insiders say they had suspicions Kira Korolev was a spy — and openly joked about it — when they went through military training together at Kapooka in early 2017.
Speaking under anonymity, the soldiers told 7NEWS Korolev spoke openly about her life in Russia, where she was born, and told them her husband was formerly in Spetsnaz, a Russian term typically associated with the country’s special units.
The revelations will place an extra layer of scrutiny on the Australian Defence Force and raise further questions about how the army private was able to pass its recruitment and security clearance processes.
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Kira, 40, and her labourer husband Igor, 62, are alleged to have obtained Australian Defence Force material to share with Russian authorities.
The couple faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with one count each of preparing for an espionage offence.
The crime carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail if convicted.
Neither applied for bail.
7NEWS can also reveal Kira planned to join the Australian army as far back as 2015, posting questions to the Facebook group, ONLINE: Women in Defence Q&A.
She posted: “I have my bachelor degree and masters degree in a bit different areas and work experience from other field either. I am not sure what exact role I could perform in the army based on my education and experience but very interested in joining. Is there any consultations which could help me out with that?”
The ADF issued a statement on Friday, saying it was working with the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce.
“In response to serious allegations, it is general practice to suspend an ADF member from service, including immediately cancelling the member’s access to Defence bases and ICT systems,” the ADF statement said.
“As this matter is before the courts and due to personal privacy obligations, Defence will not make further comment.”
The case returns to court in September.