Two Russian urban explorers turned a daredevil climb into an engagement story this week, scaling the Empire State Building’s antenna before New York police brought them back down to earth — literally.
Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, and Angelina Nikolau, 33, best known for their 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, slipped past the skyscraper’s security on Wednesday and climbed 443 metres to the very top of the spire.
Dressed in black athletic gear, with Nikolau wearing her trademark cat-eared headpiece, the pair unfurled a black flag near the tower’s flashing aviation light. Its message read: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”
The stunt, streamed live to their followers, continued as the couple climbed down to a wider section of the antenna.
There, Kuznetsov got down on one knee and proposed.
Nikolau said yes, then began photographing her new ring for Instagram before police arrived.
Officers shut down the streets below and arrested the pair without incident. Both now face charges including burglary, criminal tampering, reckless endangerment, trespassing and disorderly conduct.
How the couple got past security systems that have guarded the Art Deco landmark since 2001 remains unclear, and authorities say they are still investigating.
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