Russian Climbers Charged After Empire State Building Proposal Stunt

A split image shows two masked climbers on the Empire State Building antenna and a proposal scene high above New York City. The couple were later charged after the unauthorized climb, according to U.S. authorities. NEW YORK, July 4, 2026: Two Russian urban climbers have been charged in New York after allegedly scaling the Empire State Building’s antenna without authorization during a marriage proposal stunt that drew a major police response, U.S. media reported. The climbers were identified in court documents as Angelina Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, who are publicly known as Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus. They appeared in a Manhattan court on Thursday, July 2, a day after the climb, and were charged with several offenses, including burglary and reckless endangerment, according to police and court records cited by the Associated Press and local media. Authorities said the pair climbed above the building’s public observation areas and reached the broadcast antenna, which rises to 1,454 feet, or 443 meters, above Midtown Manhattan. Television footage showed the couple near the top of the structure, where they unfurled a black banner carrying a message about love and peace. According to the Associated Press, prosecutors said Kuznetsov told police he wanted to “do something special” for the engagement. After retrieving the banner, he appeared to propose to Nikolau on a lower section of the antenna structure. Images later posted on social media appeared to show the proposal and an engagement ring above the New York skyline. Police said the couple were taken into custody without incident after officers responded to the scene. Court documents cited by AP said police waited about 30 minutes for broadcast equipment on the antenna to be powered down before Emergency Services Unit officers climbed the structure and intercepted the pair as they descended. Investigators alleged that a lock on a secured door leading to the restricted 104th floor had been broken. The Empire State Building’s highest public observation deck is on the 102nd floor, while higher areas are restricted to authorized personnel. WABC reported that the couple were released under supervision until their next court date on August 24. Their lawyer said the case had been overcharged and pointed to the building’s statement that there was no danger to tenants, visitors or observation deck guests. The Empire State Building described the incident as unauthorized and said it was resolved with assistance from the New York Police Department. In its statement, the building said visitors seeking a memorable proposal could use its official observation deck services instead. Nikolau and Kuznetsov are known among followers of “rooftopping,” an informal practice in which people climb tall buildings or structures, often without authorization, to take photos or videos. The couple were featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” which followed their relationship and high-rise climbing activities. Authorities have repeatedly warned that unauthorized climbs of tall structures can endanger climbers, emergency responders and the public, and may lead to criminal prosecution. No injuries were reported in Wednesday’s incident. The post Russian Climbers Charged After Empire State Building Proposal Stunt appeared first on Khaama Press.