Russian media are reporting the mysterious disappearance of historian and writer Artyom Kirpichonok, who allegedly landed in Israel last week and has not been heard from since. According to reports in Russian media and on social networks in Moscow, Kirpichonok arrived in Israel on a flight from Yerevan, Armenia, but made no further contact with acquaintances after landing.
Kirpichonok was reportedly scheduled to attend an event in Israel to which he had been invited, but never arrived at his destination. Activists and acquaintances in Russia have since issued appeals for help locating him, asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to come forward.
Kirpichonok, 51, was born in St. Petersburg and immigrated to Israel in the 1990s, where he lived for approximately 15 years. During that period, he studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and also served in the military. He later returned to live in Russia. In recent years, Kirpichonok became known in part for posts and publications expressing anti-Israel views and harsh criticism of Zionism.
Russian sources now claim that there has been no sign of him since his arrival in Israel and that efforts are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding his apparent disappearance. According to Russian Telegram channels, the Russian Embassy in Israel said it had contacted Israeli authorities regarding Kirpichonok’s alleged disappearance but had not yet received a response.
As of publication, Israeli officials have issued no public statement regarding the Russian claims, leaving both Kirpichonok’s whereabouts and what happened after his reported arrival at Ben Gurion Airport unclear.