Zhytomyr Detainment: Teen Accused of Lethal Methadone Scheme

Ukrainian police arrested a 17-year-old girl in Zhytomyr on Friday, accusing her of collaborating with Russian security services to poison active-duty soldiers. The detention marks the latest instance of minors being recruited for sabotage operations during the ongoing conflict.

According to a police statement, the suspect received instructions from a Russian handler and was paid at least 5,000 hryvnias, approximately $111, for her role in the plot. She contacted soldiers through the Telegram messaging app and mailed them parcels labeled as free drugs. The recipients were instructed to consume the contents on camera to document their receipt.

The packages contained capsules filled with a lethal dose of methadone, a medication commonly used for addiction treatment. Police confirmed that two soldiers in the Zhytomyr region died from the poisoning. Investigators stated they identified other recipients of the packages, a move they said prevented four additional murders across the country.

The young woman has been charged with aiding and abetting premeditated murder through prior conspiracy. She also faces charges for shipping drugs and psychotropic substances for distribution. If found guilty, she could serve up to 15 years in prison.

Police warned that the Russian objective is to kill Ukrainian personnel and destabilize the domestic situation. Authorities urged the public to avoid accepting medication, food, or drinks from strangers to reduce the risk of similar incidents.

Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of using minors for sabotage since the war began in 2022. Ukrainian authorities have opened thousands of investigations into collaboration with the enemy. In 2023, the wife of Kyrylo Budanov, then head of military intelligence and now a presidential adviser, was accused of being poisoned by Russia. Several GUR personnel were diagnosed with the same condition that year. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently told The Sun that he survived at least five or six assassination attempts since the invasion began.