Teen Detained in Methadone Poisoning Plot

Ukrainian police detained a 17-year-old girl in Zhytomyr on Friday after accusing her of poisoning two soldiers for a Russian intelligence handler. The arrest marks a specific instance of a wider campaign authorities say Russian security services run to target Ukrainian military personnel.

Police stated the teenager was paid at least 5,000 hryvnias, equivalent to $111, for her role in the scheme. She allegedly followed instructions from a handler in Moscow to contact soldiers via Telegram. The recruits were told they were receiving free drugs and were directed to film themselves taking the medication.

The capsules sent in the parcels contained a lethal dose of methadone. Two soldiers in the Zhytomyr region died from the poisoning after consuming the substances. Investigators reported that they identified additional recipients of the packages, a move that prevented four more deaths across the country.

The suspect faces charges of aiding and abetting premeditated murder as part of a prior conspiracy. She is also charged with the distribution of drugs and psychotropic substances. If convicted, she could receive a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

Authorities warned that the objective of such operations is to kill Ukrainian citizens and destabilize the domestic situation. Police urged the public to avoid accepting food, drinks, or medication from unknown sources. The Zhytomyr region has become a focal point for these specific sabotage efforts.

This case adds to a pattern of mutual accusations between Ukraine and Russia regarding the use of minors in sabotage since the war began in 2022. Ukrainian officials have opened thousands of investigations into collaboration with Moscow. In 2023, Ukraine accused Russia of poisoning the wife of Kyrylo Budanov, then head of military intelligence, and several of his colleagues were diagnosed with the same affliction.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently told The Sun that he has survived five or six assassination attempts since the invasion began. The current detention underscores the ongoing tension in intelligence operations targeting the Ukrainian military and leadership.