Ukrainian Police Detain 17-Year-Old for Alleged Methadone Poisoning of Soldiers

Key points

• A 17-year-old girl was detained in Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv, for suspected collaboration with Russian security services.
• Police allege she packaged and sent deadly drugs to Ukrainian soldiers she contacted through Telegram.
• Two soldiers in the Zhytomyr region died from the poisoning, which involved lethal doses of methadone.
• The suspect was reportedly paid at least 5,000 hryvnias ($111) by a Russian handler for her actions.
• Authorities identified other recipients of the packages, preventing four additional potential murders across the country.
• The girl faces charges of aiding and abetting premeditated murder and shipping psychotropic substances, carrying a potential sentence of up to 15 years.

Background

This incident follows a pattern of accusations between Ukraine and Russia regarding the recruitment of minors for sabotage and poisoning since the 2022 invasion. In 2023, Ukraine accused Russia of poisoning Marianna Budanova, wife of military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, along with several GUR personnel. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also claimed to have survived multiple assassination attempts since the war began. Ukrainian authorities have opened thousands of investigations into collaboration with the enemy since February 2022.

Why it matters

The case highlights ongoing efforts by Russian intelligence to destabilize Ukraine through targeted poisoning of military personnel, even utilizing minors as intermediaries. It underscores the persistent threat of chemical attacks and the importance of public vigilance against unknown substances, as emphasized by Ukrainian police warnings.

What to watch

The 17-year-old suspect will face trial for aiding premeditated murder and drug distribution. Ukrainian authorities will likely continue investigations into other potential recipients of the poisoned packages to prevent further incidents.