Artyom Kirpichenok, 51, is reported missing after landing at Ben‑Gurion Airport on August 2 to host a conference. Colleagues and family say he has been unreachable since his arrival. Russia's embassy has submitted a formal request to Israeli authorities and says it is monitoring the case. Russian journalist Daria Mitina alleges he is being held by the Shin Bet, but Israeli officials have not confirmed the claim.
Russian‑Israeli Historian Artyom Kirpichenok Reportedly Missing After Landing in Israel
Artem Kirpichenok. (photo credit: SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT)
Artyom Kirpichenok (also spelled Artem), a 51-year-old Russian‑Israeli historian and journalist, is reported missing after arriving in Israel on August 2.
Disappearance and immediate response
Kirpichenok landed at Ben‑Gurion Airport on a flight from Yerevan to attend and host a conference. According to colleagues and relatives, he has not been reachable by phone or other means since his arrival despite repeated attempts to contact him.
Kirpichenok first moved to Israel in the 1990s, completed his studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and lived in Israel for nearly 15 years before returning to Russia. After returning to Russia he became publicly critical of the state of Israel and of Zionism; that stance has been noted in media coverage of the case.
Artem Kirpichenok. (credit: screenshot, SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT)
Diplomatic inquiries and allegations
Russia's embassy in Israel said it had taken note of reports in several Russian outlets that Kirpichenok had been detained by Israeli law enforcement on August 2 and that it had submitted a formal request to the appropriate Israeli authorities. Ambassador Anatoly Viktorov confirmed he had forwarded a request but did not say whether Moscow had received an official reply. The embassy added that it had not yet received direct inquiries from Kirpichenok's relatives but was monitoring the situation.
Russian journalist and former State Duma deputy Daria Mitina wrote on social media that Kirpichenok was in the custody of Israel's internal security service, the Shin Bet, and urged public attention to the case.
"Unfortunately, our worst fears have been confirmed. Artem Ivanovich Kirpichenok is in prison, in the custody of Israel's Shin Bet security service," Mitina wrote, calling for "maximum public attention."
As of the latest reports, Israeli authorities have not publicly confirmed a detention or disclosed details about Kirpichenok's whereabouts. The circumstances have prompted concern among academics, colleagues and diplomats seeking clarification.
Note: Current accounts are based on media reports and public statements; official confirmation from Israeli authorities is still pending.
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