Teen charged in fatal soldier poisonings

Ukrainian police detained a 17-year-old girl in Zhytomyr on Friday after accusing her of mailing lethal doses of methadone to soldiers. Two recipients died, and investigators say the operation stopped four other planned killings. The suspect allegedly worked for a Russian handler for a fee of at least 5,000 hryvnias, or about 111 dollars.

Police said the teenager contacted soldiers through Telegram and sent them parcels labeled as free drugs. The statement noted that recipients were instructed to take the capsules on camera. The capsules contained a lethal dose of methadone, a fact unknown to the soldiers at the time of ingestion.

The suspect was identified in Zhytomyr, a city west of Kyiv. Authorities stated she followed specific instructions from a Russian contact. The payment structure involved a fixed sum for the distribution work. The case involves the shipping of psychotropic substances for distribution across the region.

The girl faces charges for aiding and abetting premeditated murder in a prior conspiracy. She is also accused of shipping drugs for distribution. If convicted, she could serve up to 15 years in prison. Police have identified other package recipients, which they say prevented four additional murders.

Ukrainian officials warn that Russian security services aim to destabilize the country by killing personnel. They have urged the public to avoid accepting medication, food, or drinks from strangers. This incident follows years of accusations that both sides recruit minors for sabotage. In 2023, Ukraine accused Russia of poisoning the wife of Kyrylo Budanov, then head of military intelligence. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told The Sun he survived five or six assassination attempts since the 2022 invasion.

The detention occurred on Friday, October 23. The suspect remains in police custody in Zhytomyr. Investigators are reviewing the Telegram logs to trace the network of contacts. The case is being treated as a coordinated effort to weaken military units through targeted poisoning.