Married suburban 'spy couple' arrested for 'leaking military secrets to Russia' in espionage bust straight out of a Cold War thriller

Spy chiefs have arrested a Russian-born, Australian-citizen married couple and accused them of spying for Vladimir Putin's Moscow regime.

The woman, Kira Korolev, 40, serves as a private in the Australian Defence Force but is alleged to have tried to share secret information with Russian authorities during illicit trips overseas.

She and her husband Igor, a 62-year-old labourer, were arrested on Thursday morning at their Everton Park home in Brisbane.

They have been charged with one count each of preparing for an espionage offence which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment.

On Friday Korolev’s lawyer told Brisbane Magistrates Court there was no application for bail on behalf of his client. 

Appearing on behalf of the AFP Commissioner, barrister Dylan Kerr made an  application to suppress five names relating to the case in the interest of national security, which was granted by magistrate Ross Mack.

The case was then adjourned until September 20.

The AFP will allege the worked together to access Australian Defence Force material that related to Australia's national security interests. 

'We allege the woman was undertaking non-declared travel to Russia, whilst she was on long term leave from the Australian Defence Force,' said AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw. 

The charges are eerily reminiscent of the TV series The Americans, about two Russian sleeper agents operating in Washington DC, during the latter years of the Cold War while posing as an ordinary suburban couple. 

'We allege that whilst she was in Russia, she instructed her husband, who remained in Australia, on how to log into her official work account from their Brisbane home,' Mr Kershaw said.

'We allege her husband would access requested material and would send to his wife in Russia. We allege they sought that information with the intention of providing it to Russian authorities. 

'Whether that information was handed over remains a key focus of our investigation.'

The spy chiefs insisted they had stepped in before any alleged compromise was identified and warned further arrests could follow.

'My direct warning is we know who you are, you are likely already exposed,' he said.

'You will get a knock on your door and it will be either from someone wearing this patch on their shoulder, or from one of our other national security agencies. 

'You will face embarrassment and potentially a very lengthy term of imprisonment.' 

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess revealed the pair had been Australian citizens since 2016 for the wife and 2020 for the husband.

She had served in the Australian Army for 'several years' as an an information systems technician, he revealed.

It is the first time espionage charges have been laid since federal laws were introduced in 2018.

Mr Burgess said many countries were attempting to steal Australian secret information.

'Espionage is not some quaint cold war notion. Espionage damages our economy and degrades our strategic advantage,' he said.

'It can have catastrophic real-world consequences.'

The intelligence agency head said: 'ASIO is Australia's spy catcher. It is a responsibility we take extremely seriously. 

'If you are spying in this country, we are looking for you. If you are being spied on in this country, we are looking out for you.'