High-Altitude Engagement: Daredevil Couple Facing Felonies After Scaling Empire State Building Antenna
Photo Courtesy of Instagram account of Angela Nikolau (@angela_nikolau).
Two prominent Russian "rooftoppers" face multiple felony charges after sneaking into the Empire State Building, scaling its 1,454-foot transmitter antenna for a marriage proposal, and forcing a high-stakes police interception.
The thrill-seeking couple—Angelina Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32 (known online as Ivan Beerkus)—became famous as the subjects of the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story. They were arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday following their dramatic July 1, 2026, arrest.
Both defendants were released without bail under supervised release. As they exited the courthouse, the newly engaged pair smiled and kissed for cameras. When asked about the legal fallout of the stunt, Kuznetsov simply replied, "We believe in love."
The Stunt and High-Altitude Proposal
Dressed in all-black clothing and masks, the couple bypassed heavy security to ascend the skyscraper's towering broadcast needle without safety tethers or ropes. News helicopters and onlookers from Midtown Manhattan watched as the pair balanced on a narrow ledge. They unfurled a large black banner quoting Jimi Hendrix: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”
According to court documents and helicopter footage, the timeline of the stunt unfolded rapidly:
The Banner: The couple displayed the peace sign and message at the literal peak of the antenna.
The Descent: After 10 minutes, they rolled up the banner and picked their way down the metal latticework.
The Proposal: On a slightly wider lower ledge, Kuznetsov set up a camera, dropped to one knee, and presented an engagement ring.
The Celebration: Nikolau accepted, and the two shared a high-altitude embrace while taking selfies against the Manhattan skyline.
Security Breach and NYPD Intervention
The stunt triggered an immediate emergency response. Police officials revealed that the couple did not stumble into the area by accident; investigators believe they conducted "pre-observational surveillance" to case the building. Sources report that the couple may have secretly slept inside the skyscraper the night before the climb.
A formal court complaint noted that responding officers found a broken lock on a restricted security door on the 104th floor, which provides the only physical access to the transmitter. The highest point accessible to ticketed guests is the 102nd-floor observation deck, which requires strict keycard access to bypass.
Before officers could climb the exterior structure, the NYPD ordered a temporary power-down of the transmitter to prevent the daredevils and emergency responders from being electrocuted or exposed to high-frequency radiation. Highly trained officers from the NYPD Emergency Service Unit (ESU) then ascended the steep, caged-in ladders. Body camera footage captured an ESU officer intercepting the couple on a metal platform, stating, "Hello, how you doing? Can you just stay where you are? You can't be up here." The couple surrendered peacefully and were taken into custody.
Slew of Criminal Charges
While defense attorney Jason Krinsky jokingly told reporters, "What a way to propose—something you can only dream of. So you’ve got to give him some credit for that," Manhattan prosecutors are treating the breach with severe gravity.
The couple was hit with an array of charges, including: Burglary (Felony), Reckless Endangerment (Felony), Criminal Mischief, Criminal Tampering, Possession of Burglar’s Tools, and Criminal Trespass and Disorderly Conduct
The prosecution emphasized that the unauthorized climb heavily endangered the lives of the responding ESU officers who had to scale the exterior frame over 1,200 feet in the air.
The Empire State Building's management issued a statement clarifying that at no time were tenants or public visitors on the observation deck in danger. They added a dry marketing quip to their press release: "It is to be emphasized that the Empire State Building Observation Deck... does offer a practical [and legal] way for the most memorable marriage proposals."
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