Ukrainian authorities announced on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, the detention of a 17-year-old girl in Zhytomyr suspected of poisoning Ukrainian soldiers under the direction of Russian security services. According to the National Police, the girl allegedly mailed packages containing methadone to military personnel she met via Telegram. The police reported that two soldiers died after consuming the substance, while law enforcement intercepted other packages to prevent four additional deaths across the Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Chernivtsi, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.
This case follows a pattern reported by Ukrainian officials of Russia recruiting minors for sabotage acts since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Earlier in October 2026, police in the Rivne region reported a separate case involving a 14-year-old girl accused of poisoning and strangling a 27-year-old serviceman on Jan. 30. In that instance, investigators alleged the teenager was recruited by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) through a messaging app, where she developed romantic feelings for a handler who promised her travel to Russian-controlled territory.
In the Zhytomyr case, Acting Chief of the National Police Maksim Tsutsikiridze stated the 17-year-old suspect received instructions from a Russian handler to send drugs and instructed recipients to take them on camera. The police reported she was promised 5,000 hryvnias, approximately $111, for her involvement. The two deceased soldiers in this case had reportedly left their military units without authorization, while four others who were targeted have continued their service.
The reported recruitment of minors by foreign intelligence services is described by police as a threat for soldiers away from the front lines. The 17-year-old suspect faces up to 15 years in prison for aiding and abetting premeditated murder and drug distribution.
Ukrainian police have issued warnings for personnel to refuse all medications, food, or drinks from unknown individuals, specifically cautioning against interactions initiated on platforms like Telegram. One suspect was reportedly promised $111 (5,000 hryvnias) and another was promised $1,000 for a separate arson attack that was never paid.
These cases involve the Security Service (SBU) and the National Police. The 14-year-old suspect in the Rivne case has been indicted and remains in pretrial detention, while investigators in the Zhytomyr case are looking into the 17-year-old’s potential involvement in other crimes. Specific trial dates for these cases were not reported.