Russian-directed recruitment of Ukrainian minors for assasss

Ukrainian authorities have uncovered a pattern of Russian intelligence services, specifically the Federal Security Service (FSB), recruiting minors via Telegram to carry out assassinations of Ukrainian soldiers.

In one instance in the Rivne region, a 14-year-old girl was indicted for the premeditated murder of a 27-year-old soldier. Investigators allege she was motivated by romantic feelings for a handler who promised her travel to Russian-controlled territory. The girl reportedly served the victim drinks laced with methadone and strangled him while on a video call with her handler.

In a separate case in the Zhytomyr region, a 17-year-old was arrested for allegedly poisoning two military personnel and attempting to kill four others. This suspect was reportedly promised approximately 5,000 hryvnias (about 100 euros) to mail packages containing lethal doses of methadone to targets. Police successfully intercepted other packages, preventing deaths in the Kirovograd, Zaporizhzhia, Chernivtsi, and Ivana-Frankivsk regions. The suspect faces up to 15 years in prison for complicity in premeditated murder and illicit drug trafficking.