Transgender GUR agent helped expose Russian spy in the US: details of the operation
Фото: “Українська правда”
An American agent who worked with the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine helped expose a Russian spy in the U.S. The operation resulted in the suspect being detained and she provided testimony about Russian intelligence activities.
This is reported by Delfi .
Journalists said that this is Nomma Zarubina, who was recruited by the FSB in Tomsk, Russia, in 2020. She was given the codename “Alice” and carried out information-gathering tasks, including establishing close contact with targets.
According to the material, Zarubina worked undercover in the United States and tried to establish contacts with representatives of the Russian opposition. In particular, she contacted Ilya Ponomarev, where she met American Sarah Ashton-Cirillo.
Ashton-Cirillo, who joined the Ukrainian military as a medic in 2022, later began working with Ukrainian intelligence. After their first meeting in 2024 near Washington, she drew attention to Zarubina’s behavior and passed on the relevant information to the leadership.
In the spring of 2025, Zarubina herself reached out and began to show personal interest. With the approval of the GUR, Ashton-Cirillo continued communication and traveled to New York.
“It all started with her trying to find out something about me and grew into a close relationship, during which I received important information,” said Sarah Ashton-Cirillo.
It is noted that the relationship between them lasted about 8 months, during which the GUR agent received information about the activities of Russian special services. During this time, Zarubina also expressed her own attitude to Russian politics and provided details of her work.
In June 2025, a Russian court sentenced Ashton-Cirillo in absentia to 20 years in prison, but the contact between the women did not stop.
Eventually, Zarubina was detained in December 2025. During interrogation, she told American investigators about the tasks she received from Russian intelligence, as well as the methods of carrying them out.
We will remind you that the SBU and the National Police prevented a series of contract killings in Kyiv and the region, which were prepared by Russian agents.
It was previously reported that the Security Service of Ukraine eliminated a Russian military intelligence hitman and detained members of an intelligence-combat group who were preparing high-profile murders.
Also follow “Pryamim” on Facebook , X , Telegram , and Instagram.