Russian spy was in a relationship with a transgender American woman who worked for Ukrainian intelligence
35-year-old Russian woman Noma Zarubina, suspected in the US of working for Russian intelligence, was in a relationship with transgender American Sarah Ashton-Cirillo. In 2022, she joined the Kharkiv Territorial Defense as a volunteer, then worked as a medic on the front line. After that, Ukrainian intelligence offered her a job — to identify Russian agents among opponents of Putin's regime, writes Astra.
Zarubina's task in the US was to collect information about opposition figures — including through personal and intimate connections. She operated under the pseudonym 'Alice'.
Zarubina and Ashton-Cirillo first met in 2024 at a dinner attended by Russian opposition figures Ilya Ponomarev and Andrey Illarionov near Washington during the NATO summit. Zarubina's behavior already raised Sarah's suspicions then.
In November 2024, Zarubina was arrested in the US for mediation in prostitution. She then lied to the FBI, claiming she knew nothing about Russian intelligence.
In the spring of 2025, Zarubina herself re-established contact — this time with romantic interest. Ashton-Cirillo acted in agreement with Ukrainian special services and continued communication.
“It all started with her attempt to scout something out and evolved into a close relationship, during which I received important information,” she recalls.
As a result, their relationship lasted about 8 months.
In December 2025, Zarubina was re-arrested in the US. She gave a confession. In turn, Sarah Ashton-Cirillo was sentenced in absentia in Russia to 20 years in prison.
However, as the American woman claims, 'Alice' sympathized with the 'Freedom of Russia' Legion, as well as the movement that kills generals and was involved in Darya Dugina's death.
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